out Onbopaoi & AheumatlogcIsttute Siena & Conditions Treatment & Prosedues Dur Doctors Make an Appoinament Deparment & Centers {esearch & lonovations Datint Edueation or meat rrovessonais + aoe «i Dee Radial Tunnel 866,3204573 9002232273 Syndrome fewae | Gebtnn Ure cre fe» 1) ‘What is radial tunnel syndrome? Rada ume! siamese oss tha nce au aul acing pan abe op fhe fvarn whe, ough ss carr, spans an asec athe act he hand ews The pons ate cased by pressure onthe al neve, usualy he elbou Th al nenels one che tee main nenes ite am ans mth eco te bak othe upper am Nea. races viet sow ard goes feat ea ancran Ate ew Weradainen® ener aaron ure! eo muSses eno, ‘ne, alee ral uml, What are the symptoms of radial tunnel syndrome? alum sane cases athrgpan tet aeoear ease ce chon abe a ethe ‘hand. Patients less often describe the pain 2s cufing, piercing, or staboing. happens most often when the person Straighten his or her wrist or fingers. ‘Reda urls can cause aque anweaiess ine eur muss andesiessin twist ‘eal unrel dram fet the ruses, no neve, sos ret casein orruméness inthe am wis nes ‘What causes radial tunnel syndrome? ‘yi eal enced anne clog gh, ean cue pan Te une ae eons ne athe rostcormon pas he neve ge phe drsquezdberasz ital tetnen mcd tele andunerfal ‘ands, Facl bands asus tes tal enose, sepa, ofd ger muse, geo or cher sof buses ot treo) ‘vense othe amt ush plan overuse fe tand br tog ching, bering wit can ithe ‘evan casein Repeing hese reverent sucha singe am awison oan spots, _stuetes eral nn Ocean caseradalonne snd Who i at risk for developing radial tunnel syndrome? Akt dp eld omen « spo robs hatreute conse wi ing aon + poof aman wis stengh andy “lathe aeuals warp mettre laying sors + dates + undraave nyse unas on aren) ass orn inte amt case pressure ene + selng rfidinde amb squezes he ene + ifarmaion ead nene + akadeiwb hetoramow is radial tunnel syndrome diagnosed? ainin the forearm andnang aro usually he symptoms mat cond a person 1 tho doctor. Howaver, tnore are ne tosts 10 ‘ove a person has radial tunne! syndrome This makes the clagnosis dificult The docior must depend on the patient's \ysical exam and tne ype and locaton of tie pain. As pa ofthe exam. Ue patients asked to tin his or ner Fim up ‘ha straight elbow while the doctor restricts arm and hand movement. ifthe patent feels pain while tying to move the mor hands against resistance; itis a sign of racial tunnel syncrome. In another test the patients asked to point with or her midulo finger against resistence. Pain wit thie movement is another sign of rauial tunnel syndrome ow is radial tunnel syndrome treated? eatment begins with resting the arm from the actly thatis causing the symptoms. For most patients, rest combined ‘tm medical toatment for 3 to 6 wooks wil rellove cymotors. featments include: ‘ver-tne-counter medications 1oreauce sweltng steroid injections to relieve inflammation and pressure on the radial news vist ander elbow splints to reduce irtation ofthe radial neve ‘exercise, techniques to reduce the effects of repetitive motion siress, ultrasound, heat and cold 1 goal of reaiment isto prevent the return of symptoms. the job is causing the problem, the worksite may needto be ranged. Mere breaks may be needed during the workday and heavy pulling and pushing should be avoidedifpassible. br sports injuries, strencth and flexibility exercises and adequate warm-up time defore playing or practicing are portant caring an arm spit t night can Keep the stm in a position that provonts pincning ino now. ; there a surgical treatment for radial tunnel syndrome? te results of surgery fr radial tunnel syndrome vary Doctors recommend surgery enly when time and ner-operative rapy als dial tunnel surgery is uncommon, and usually is done as an outpatient surgery the patient does not stayin the >spiial ovainigh’).l'can be done wi otal anesthesia (he pallens asleep) or a partial anesthesia. Parial anesthesia ccs the feeing onlyin the atm being operated on. The patientis ewake f arial anesthesiais used operation to reat radial tunnel syndrome is called radial tnnel release. In this operation, the surgeon divides all ‘impressive sites witnin tno racial tunnol. This makes the radial tunnel bigger so tno radial nerve nas mere spaco. Aor © operation, naw tissue grows across the spilt snd builds @ permanently largertunne! What happens after surgery? Ser surgery patients wear an elbow splint withthe arm wrapped One week after surgery the patient will start on a gent srercise program. Paiients use ice packs, softtissue massage, and stitching to improve patients’ range of mation ‘ter 6 weeks, pailents begin strenath-building exercises forthe forearm and hand under a therapist's supenision. During recovery. lifting and other actvties that require bending the arm atthe elbovr are not allowed. Inthe final stage, he ‘horapist adds exercises to staplize and strenatnon tho wrist, elbow, and shoulder, andimprovo fine motor control inthe ‘an. Full recovery after surgery can Lake 6 10 & months or longer. How long I takes fo recover depends on te amount of amage tothe nerve before surgery What is the outlook (prognosis) after treatment? \ost patients recover completely wih medical ireatment they follow Instucttons caretuly and avoid tuture injury tothe "eve: Surgery improves symptoms for patients who did nol espondte medical ealment, Bul some patients coavinue to ‘ave mild pain after surgery. reventing resiniury tothe radial nerve is the mostimportent goal ater recover. References + Naam H,Nemant S. Racial Tunnel Syncrome. Onhop Clin North Am, 2012; Oct 43(4)529-36. Floranda EE, JacoDs 8C. Evaluation and Treatment of Upper Extremity Nerve Entrapment Syndremes. Prim Care. 2018;Doe40(4):925-43. + Hagert € Hagert CG. Upper Extremity Nerve Enttepments: The Aillan) and Radial Newes-Clinical Diagnosis end Surcical Treatment Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery 2074; July 124(1)74-80, + Neal SL, Kail 8 Fields KB Peripheral Nerve Entrapment and Injury in the Upper Exes Arn Farm Physician 2010:81(2) 147-185. + Hainline, Evi, Peipheral Nerve Injury in Sporis. CONTINUUN: Lifelong Leatning in Neurology 2014.20(6, Sports| Neurology) 1605-1828. © Copyright 1995-2015 TEXSTISETETSTISSATITETIN Ai rights reserved.