Compressive and traumatic neuropathies of the deep branch of the radial nerve – a retrospective analysis of surgically treated cases
Authors:
M. Beneš 1-3; I. Humhej 2-4; H. Zítek 2-4; D. Kachlík 2,3; V. Kunc 2,3,5
Authors‘ workplace:
1 st Department of Orthopaedics, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
1; Department of Anatomy, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
2; Center for Endoscopic, Surgical and Clinical Anatomy (CESKA), Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
3; Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Health Studies, Jan Evangelista Purkinje University, Masaryk Hospital, Usti nad Labem, Czech Republic
4; Clinic of Trauma Surgery, Masaryk Hospital, Usti nad Labem, Czech Republic
5
Published in:
Cesk Slov Neurol N 2025; 88(6): 349-356
Category:
Original Paper
doi:
https://doi.org/10.48095/cccsnn2025349
Overview
Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of surgical treatment for compressive and traumatic neuropathies of the deep branch of the radial nerve (DBRN), with an additional focus on epidemiology, anatomical considerations linked to DBRN lesions, and complications. Materials and methodology: Records of patients surgically treated for peripheral nerve lesions were retrospectively reviewed to compile data on demographic details, anatomical location of the lesion, surgical management, outcomes, and complications. The primary outcome measure was the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center (LSUHSC) score. Results: Twenty-two patients, comprising of 15 compressive and 7 traumatic neuropathies, were included. The median follow-up was 17.5 (14–41) months. Surgical intervention led to a significant improvement in the LSUHSC score in both the compressive (from 2 [0–3] to 4 [2–5]; P = 0.018) and the traumatic neuropathy group (from 0 [0–0] to 3 [0–4]; P = 0.011). The traumatic neuropathy group exhibited a significantly lower preoperative LSUHSC score (P = 0.004), but the difference in postoperative scores was not significant (P = 0.129). Primary surgical treatment failed in 26.7% of patients with compression and in 28.6% of patients with DBRN injury. Tendon transfer presented a viable solution for patients with failed primary treatment. Conclusion: Surgical treatment provides significant functional improvement in patients with compressive and traumatic neuropathies of the DBRN. However, a considerable percentage of patients in both groups experienced primary treatment failure. Although patients with traumatic neuropathies of the DBRN presented with a worse preoperative functional status, the postoperative outcomes between both groups were comparable.
Keywords:
neuropathy – compression – injury – palsy – deep branch of the radial nerve – posterior interosseous nerve
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Paediatric neurology Neurosurgery NeurologyArticle was published in
Czech and Slovak Neurology and Neurosurgery
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