Final answer:
Compression of the axillary nerve typically leads to weakness in shoulder abduction due to its innervation of the deltoid and teres minor muscles, and often presents with sensory disturbance on part of the lateral shoulder. Treatment can vary from physical therapy to surgery, and chronic compression without treatment may lead to muscle atrophy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Compression of the axillary nerve leads to different symptoms than that of the median nerve because the axillary nerve serves a different region. Unlike the median nerve's influence on thumb and finger movements, the axillary nerve primarily innervates the deltoid and teres minor muscles of the shoulder. Therefore, compression of the axillary nerve typically results in muscle weakness affecting shoulder abduction (raising the arm out to the side) and some sensory disturbance along the 'regimental badge' area of the skin (part of the lateral shoulder).
It does not usually result in the same symptoms as median nerve compression (which leads to carpal tunnel syndrome), such as numbness and tingling in the hand. Conservative treatments may involve physical therapy or anti-inflammatory medications, whereas surgical intervention might be warranted in more severe cases to alleviate the compression.
If left untreated, chronic compression of the axillary nerve can cause atrophy of the deltoid muscle. The axillary nerve does not affect the fingers as the median nerve does, so its compression would not cause hand weakness or wasting but rather shoulder dysfunction.