[Radial neuropathy after peripheral venous puncture]. / Neuropathie radiale après ponction veineuse périphérique.

We report a case of left radial neuropathy from a venipuncture, in a 59-year-old woman. She had a history of amputation of the four last fingers of the right hand, when she was 27-year-old. One year before, she had a difficult venipuncture of the left radial vein, for a preanaesthetic assessment for cataract surgery. The puncture elicited an excruciating pain, associated with hypoaesthesia in the area of the radial nerve, at forearm and the wrist. Conventional therapeutic means had only a minor efficiency. The concept of nervous system sensitizing is discussed. Prevention is essential.