A Case of Acute Radial Neuropathy in the Affected Side of a Patient with Stroke

Case Report

J Korean Assoc EMG Electrodiagn Med 2017;19(1):10-14.
Published online June 30, 2017.

Received: 21 November 2016 • Revised: 4 May 2017 • Accepted: 10 May 2017

Abstract

Motor weakness of limbs and trunk are common complaint after stroke. If there are other concurrent causes of motor weakness like focal entrapment neuropathy in paretic limb, it is hard to find them because of weakness due to stroke. A man with the left basal ganglia hemorrhage complained of motor weakness of the right upper extremity, especially wrist and finger extensors. Motor nerve conduction study revealed the right radial neuropathy with definite conduction block between 13 cm and 15 cm proximal to the lateral epicondyle. Ultrasonography showed swelling of right radial nerve at the same lesion. After dexamethasone injection around the right spiral groove, electrodiagnostic findings and clinical feature were significantly improved. In case stroke patients with hemiplegia show persistent motor and sensory impairment in the specific peripheral nerve territory despite of recovery, concomitant neuropathy on the affected side should be considered.

Key Words: stroke, radial nerve, wrist drop, electrodiagnois, ultrasonography