The deltoid abduction lag test for assessment of axillary nerve injury and functional deltoid recovery

The DALT successfully and reproducibly isolates deltoid function and identifies axillary nerve palsy. We specifically advocate using this test immediately following injury to confirm the presence of an axillary nerve lesion, at 3 months post-injury to identify patients who have experienced a neurapraxic injury and at 6 months to identify axonal lesions which may benefit from surgical intervention.