Radial tunnel syndrome: results of surgical decompression by a postero-lateral approach

Abstract

Purpose Our purpose is to describe the results obtained in surgical treatment of a series of patients with symptoms of radial tunnel syndrome. Methods We performed a prospective study on 42 patients (43 limbs) operated for radial tunnel syndrome between 1996 and 2010, using a posterior-external approach. Results Using the Roles and Maudsley criteria, 21 patients had excellent results (48.8%), 16 good (37.2%) and six fair results (13.9%). Most patients were satisfied with the surgery, reporting symptom relief and improved functionality. Conclusions Radial tunnel syndrome consists of intermittent compression of the posterior interosseous nerve in the forearm, with pain and functional disability of the forearm, without motor or sensory electromyogram alterations. Because it is often confused with enthesitis of the epicondyle muscle insertions (an entity often occurring simultaneously), differential diagnosis is necessary with treatment-resistant epicondylitis. The most effective treatment is surgical, releasing all possible nerve compression sites.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Posterior Interosseous Nerve Entrapment: Systematic Review

“…Quantitative data were present in some studies, 10 , 11 , 14 , 15 , 17 , 18 and utilized the self-reported DASH/QuickDash and Roles & Maudsley tools. In general, the majority of studies described the open technique with muscle release associated with external neurolysis in the radial nerve.…”

Radial Tunnel Syndrome: Review and Best Evidence

“…Since then, several studies have reported results from surgical decompression in small cohorts of patients with additional techniques for decompression, including a straight dorsolateral incision (Figure 2A) with dissection between the extensor carpi radialis longus and ECRB along with fat transfer above the decompressed PIN to prevent scar formation. [34][35][36][37][38] Others have decompressed the nerve at the interval between the BR and wrist extensors (Figure 2B). A summary of surgical approaches to PIN release is presented in Table 2.…”

Radyal sinir ile ilgili tuzak nöropatiler

“…[28] Stanley ve arkadaşlarına ettiklerini ve bu cerrahi tedavinin başarısının yüksek olduğunu bildirmişlerdir. [30] PİN tuzaklanmasındaki ikinci klinik tabloda, el-bilek ve parmak ekstansiyonunda kademeli veya ani güç kaybı görülür. Temelde, radyal sinirin tünel içerisinde tuzaklanması RTS olarak isimlendirilirken, tünel sonrası PİN basısı posterior interosseöz sendromu olarak adlandırılır.…”