Radial nerve compression Flashcards
Define PIN compression syndrome?
Compressive neuropathy of PIN effective the muscular supply of the forearm EXTENSOR compartment
What is the epidemiology of PIN compression syndrome?
- 3 per 100,000 people pa
- More common in
- manual labourers
- males
- bodybuilders
Describe the aetiology of PIN compresison syndrome?
- Trauma- fracture/dislocation monteggia/radial head fr
- Microtrauma- repitive pronosupination movements
- Space filling lesions- ganglions/lipomas
- Inflammation - rheumatoid synovitis
- Iatragenic- surgery
Describe the pathoanatomy of PIN compression syndrome?
- 5 potential sites of compression= FLEAS
-
Fibrous tissue ant to radiocapitellar joint
- between brachialis/brachioradialis
-
Leash of Henry
- recurrent radial vessels fan out across PIN at level of radial necl
-
Extensor carpi radialis brevis edge
- mediporx edge of ECRb
-
Arcade of Frohse
- prox edge of superficial portion of Supinator
-
Supinator Muscle edge
- Distal edge of supinator muscle
Decribe the anatomy of PIN?
- Branch of radial nerve
- Provides motor innervation EXTENSOR compartment
Course
- Passes between 2 heads of supinator muscle
- Direct contact with radial neck
- Passes over Abductor pollicis longus to reach interosseous membrane
- transverses along posterior interossesous membrane
What does PIN supply?
Common extensors
- ECRB
- EDC
- EDM
- ECU
Deep Extensors
- Supinator
- Abductor pollicis longus
- Extensor pollicis brevus
- Extensor pollicis longus
- Extensor incidis proprius
Sensory
- sensory fibres to dorsal wrist capsule- by terminal branch
- Located on floor of 4th EXTENSOR COMPARTMENT
What are the symptoms and signs of PIN compression syndrome?
Symptoms
- Insidous onset
- Pain in forearm & wrist- location depends on site of compression
- Weakness with finger, wrist and thumb movements
Signs
- Chronic compression- muscle atrophy
- Weakness- finger metacarpal extension
- Wrist extension weakness
- inability to extend wrist in neutral/ulna deviation.
- Wrist will extend with RADIAL deviation due to intact ERCL ( radial N) and absent ECU ( PIN)
-
Provocation test
- RESISTED SUPINATION- Increase Pain
- Normal Tenodesis effect - Ra ext tendons won’t
Are any investigations helpful in PIN compression syndrome?
- Yes MRI- maybe helpful to deliniate the soft tissue mass responsible for compression
- EMG- may be helpful to identify level of compresion adn rule out differential diagnosis of neuropathy
What is the DDX of forearm pain and weakness?
- PIN compression syndrome
- Brachial plexus compression
- Cervical spine nerve compression
- Peripheral neuropathy
Describe the TX of PIN compression syndrome?
Non operative
- Rest, activity modification, stretch, splinting, NSAIDS
-
Cortiosteriod injection if compressive mass ruled out and isolated tenderness distal to lateral epicondyle
- single injection 3-4 cm to lat epicondyle at site of compression
Operative
- Surgical decompression
- symptoms >3mo of non op tx
- compressive mass detected on investigations
- Outcomes variable- spontaneous recovery of motor function seen in 75-97% of non traumatic cases
- may continue to improve for up to 18 mo
Describe the technique for surgical decompression of PIN syndrome?
Approach
- Anterolateral to elbow most common
- Release first..
- Fibrous band connecting Brachialis and brachioradialis
- leash of Henry
- Fibrous edge of ERCB
- Radial tunnel inc arcade of Frosche and distal supinator
Name the complications of PIN compression syndrome?
- Muscle fibrosis of PIN innervated muscles -> tendon transfer procedures to establish funciton
- Chronic Pain
What is the last muscle to recover in PIN compression syndrome?
- Extensor indicis Proprius
What is radial tunnel syndrome?
- A compressive neuropathy of PIN with PAIN ONLY
- No motor or sensory dysfunction
Describe the pathophysiology of radial tunnel syndrome?
involves the same sites as PIN compression syndrome
- Fibrous band between Brachialis and brachoradialis, anterior to radiocapitellar joint
- Leash of Henry- radial recurrent vessels
- ECRB medial border
- Arcade of Frohse prox edge of supinator- most frequent site of entrapment
- Supinator distal border edge