A 52-year-old man with a history of remote neck surgery presents to the emergency department with weakness and paresthesia in the left arm. He first noted the symptoms when he awoke in the morning. The patient denies any neck pain, headache, speech or vision changes, or other symptoms. Vital signs are normal. Physical examination reveals grip weakness in the left hand. Cranial nerves are intact.

The differential diagnosis includes stroke and neuropraxia. The resident orders a computed tomography (CT) scan of the head.

What do the images show? What is the next best step in management?


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