Dr. Ebraheim’s educational animated video describing the condition known as radial nerve palsy.
The radial nerve originates from the posterior cord of the brachial plexus. Radial nerve injury results from acute trauma or compression of the radial nerve.
Condition is often referred to as
•Saturday night palsy: alcohol is sometimes a factor as person falls asleep with the back of their arm compressed by a chair back, bar edge, etc.
•Honeymoon palsy: from another individual sleeping on one’s arm overnight, compressing the nerve.
•Crutch palsy: compression on nerve from walking with crutches.
The radial nerve supplies the extensor muscles allowing for extension of the wrist and fingers in addition to supplying the triceps that extends the elbow. If the muscles are not working properly, the patient will experience the condition known as “wrist drop”.
A radial nerve injury classically occurs by fractures involving the distal third of the humeral shaft. The patient will be unable to perform the “hitch hike” sign.
If the nerve is compressed at the axilla, the triceps muscle will be affected. Patient will not be able to extend the elbow in addition to wrist drop.
Treatment of radial nerve palsy
•Brace, cockup splint
•Physical therapy to help maintain the muscle strength and avoid contracture.
•EMG and nerve studies:
Brachioradialis is the first muscle to recover.
Can be done as early as three weeks and follow the progress.
•Nerve exploration, repair or graft: nerve exploration:
Nerve exploration is indicated in open humeral fracture with radial nerve palsy or in conditions that have had sufficient time without nerve recovery.
•Tendon transfer if nerve cannot be repaired or the function cannot be restored.
8 ноя 2010
