Journal List > J Korean Med Assoc > v.60(12) > 1043255

Jang and Lee: Radial nerve neuropathy

Abstract

Radial nerve entrapment or compression in the upper extremity is relatively rare compared to medial nerve or ulnar nerve entrapment and compression. Various syndrome types are defined according to the location of radial nerve entrapment and the pattern of symptom expression. In the upper arm, Saturday night palsy or honeymoon palsy occurs. Around the elbow, posterior interosseous nerve entrapment syndrome, which involves pure motor symptoms, and radial tunnel syndrome, which mainly involves pain symptoms, can develop. Finally, superficial radial nerve entrapment occurs in the distal forearm and has the symptom of painful or abnormal sensory disturbances of the hand. Conservative treatment is usually the first choice for radial nerve neuropathy, unless there is motor paralysis. Surgical treatment can be considered if there is no improvement after adequate conservative treatment.

Figures and Tables

Figure 1

Radial nerve palsy with transverse humeral shaft fracture showing distracted fracture gap. (A) Preoperative radiograph. (B) Long distracted radial nerve injury. (C) After nerve repair and bone fixation. (D) Postoperative radiograph.

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Figure 2

Intraoperative photos of patient with giant cell tumor of proximal radius. These show anatomic course of posterior interosseous nerve around the elbow. (A) Resected posterior interosseous nerve just lateral to the radial head. It runs dorsally along radius neck and through supinator muscle. (B) Proximal radial nerve identified anterior to the distal humerus. (C) Clinical photo after neurorrhaphy.

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ORCID iDs

Hyo Seok Jang
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1235-8600

Young Ho Lee
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2544-6183

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