Radial tunnel syndrome results of surgical treatment

ABSTRACT

To evaluate the clinical results of decompression of posterior interosseous nerve in radial tunnel syndrome. A prospective clinical and operative study. Orthopaedic surgery department, Zagazig University Hospitals. Radial tunnel syndrome was diagnosed clinically in 18 patients and treated by surgical decompression of the posterior interosseous nerve. There were 16 male and 2 female patients. The mean age of the patients was 37 years. The dominant extremity was involved in 15 patients. The mean duration of symptom before definitive clinical diagnosis of radial tunnel syndrome was 32 months. The mean follow-up period was 18 months. The main clinical symptoms and signs of radial tunnel syndrome were deep aching pain in the proximal radial part of the forearm. local tenderness 5 cm distal to the lateral epicondyle on the extensor wad, pain caused by supination against resistance, positive middle finger test and positive xylocaine local injection test. Anterior transbrachioradialis approach was used in all patients for decompression of the posterior interosseous nerve. Using our suggested rating scale, excellent and good results were 72%, fair results were 11% and poor results were 17%. Post-operative complications included recurrence of symptoms in one patient and hypertrophic tender scar in two patients. The diagnosis of radial tunnel syndrome is mainly clinical and surgical decompression of the posterior interosseous nerve gives relief in most cases