A CLINICAL ANALYSIS OF PATIENTS WITH WRIST DROP DUE TO RADIAL TUNNEL SYNDROME

Objective

The wrist drop caused by damage to radial nerve is a very rare condition. The aim of the current study is to present our diagnostic and treatment criteria in radial tunnel syndrome.

Methods

We performed a retrospective study on 16 patients. Between January 2006 and june 2014, the clinical assessment of consecutive operated patients with radial tunnel syndrome in Rize Education and Research Hospital and Kasımpaşa Military Hospital were analysed. The diagnosis and severity of syndrome was based on electro-diagnostic study after 2 weeks that revealed delayed nerve conduction velocity in all patients.

Results

Patients with radial tunnel syndrome were 12 man and 4 women; median age, 28 years; range, 8–37 years. The right arm was affected in 8 patients and the left arm in 8 patients. 10 patients were treated  with surgery and 6 patients were treated without surgery (conservative). Despite 3-week-conservative treatment, surgical decompression was performed  in the patients unresolved clinic symptoms.

Conclusion

Rapid clinical improvement was occurred in the patients with surgical decompression. The radial nerve entrapment was always in the dominant arm. The outcome was better in patients with surgery compared with patients with conservative treatment.