RADIAL NERVE PALSY

- A e ti o l o g y, C l i n i c a l F e a t u r e s -
LEARNING OUTCOMES
i. List 2 aetiologies of high radial nerve palsy
ii. List 3 clinical features of high radial nerve palsy
iii. List 2 aetiologies of low radial nerve palsy
iv. List 3 clinical features of low radial nerve palsy
ANATOMY
 COURSE
Posterior wall of Axilla:

Motor: Branches to long

head and medial head of
triceps
Sensory: Posterior cutaneous
Motor:
nerve of arm, Posterior
cutaneous nerve of forearm
 Arm: RADIAL GROOVE AT DISTAL 1/3 OF HUMERUS
- HOLSTEIN-LEWIS FRACTURE

Motor: lateral head of

triceps
Sensory: Posterior cutaneous
nerve of forearm,
Inferolateral cutaneous nerve
of arm

Posterior view
Forearm:

Radial
AT THE ARM LEVEL, THE B=NERVE DOES NOT BRANCH.
IN FOREARM, 2 BRANCHES, DEEP AND SUPERFICIAL Deep br. of radial
DEEP -> PIN
Superficial br. of radial
SUPERFICIAL -> SENSORY

Motor: Deep branch

Sensory: Superficial branch
Hand:

Motor: Branches to long

head and medial head of
triceps
Sensory: Posterior cutaneous
nerve of arm, Posterior
cutaneous nerve of forearm
DISTAL 1/3 FRACTURE OF HUMERUS
- High, along spiral groove, 14cm proximal to lateral
epicondyle, 20cm proximal to medial epicondyle
- Holstein-Lewis fracture; spiral fracture of distal
1/3 of humerus + neuropraxia
p/w - Pain
- Extremity weakness
o/e - Weakness of wrist and finger extension
(extensor muscles)
- fist radiates medially due to weakness of
FCU
-