Retrospective Study on Electrophysiological Characteristics of Radial Neuropathy

J Korean Assoc EMG Electrodiagn Med 2011;13(1):25-30.
Published online June 1, 2011.

Abstract

Objective: This study was designed to evaluate the electrophysiological characteristics of patients with radial neuropathy. Methods: Seventy-seven patients with electrodiagnostically confirmed radial neuropathy were analyzed via the medical records and electrodiagnostic findings. Based on the needle electromyographic findings, the most proximal muscle with abnormal findings was defined as the level of injury. The subjects were divided into four groups according to the level of injury. The etiologies of radial motor neuropathy were categorized into traumatic and non-traumatic causes. Traumatic causes included fracture, blunt trauma, laceration and crushing injury. Non-traumatic causes included external pressure and mass. The relation of the level of injury and the clinical characteristics was analyzed. Results: The radial neuropathy was mainly traumatic origin (51.9%), especially fracture-related injury of radial nerve and among non-tramuatic origin, external compression is common. The radial nerve was predominantly compressed around the radial tunnel. There was no statistical significance between 4 lesion locations and two etiologies of traumatic and non-traumatic origins (p=0.18). Conclusion: Radial neuropathy has various etiologies and different electrodiagnostic findings. Early detection of such neuropathy may prevent further deterioration.

Key Words: Radial nerve, Neuropathy, Clinical, Electrophysiological