Posterior antebrachial cutaneous nerve conduction study in radial neuropathy

Lo, Y.L.; Prakash, K.M.; Leoh, T.H.; Tan, Y.E.; Dan, Y.F.; Xu, L.Q.; Ratnagopal, P.

doi:10.1016/j.jns.2004.05.004

« Previous Next »Journal of the Neurological Sciences
Volume 223, Issue 2 , Pages 199-202, 30 August 2004

Posterior antebrachial cutaneous nerve conduction study in radial neuropathy

Y.L. Lo
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +65-63265003; fax: +65-62203321.
- Department of Neurology, National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore General Hospital, Outram Road, Singapore 169608, Singapore
K.M. Prakash
- Department of Neurology, National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore General Hospital, Outram Road, Singapore 169608, Singapore
T.H. Leoh
- Department of Neurology, Neurodiagnostic Unit, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore
Y.E. Tan
- Department of Neurology, Neurodiagnostic Unit, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore
Y.F. Dan
- Department of Neurology, Neurodiagnostic Unit, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore
L.Q. Xu
- Department of Neurology, Neurodiagnostic Unit, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore
P. Ratnagopal
- Department of Neurology, National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore General Hospital, Outram Road, Singapore 169608, Singapore

Received 31 December 2003; received in revised form 29 April 2004; accepted 3 May 2004.

Abstract

Radial neuropathy most commonly occurs as a result of external compression at the spiral groove region. The posterior antebrachial cutaneous nerve (PACN) conduction study was performed in 15 consecutive patients with radial palsy. Unilateral PACN abnormalities were present in 11 patients. A normal PACN study was correlated with clinical improvement at 3 months. Conversely, PACN abnormality was correlated with radial motor axon loss and a poorer prognosis. The PACN study is a simple adjunct which provides additional information relating to the diagnosis and prognosis of radial lesions.

Keywords: Posterior antebrachial cutaneous nerve, Radial neuropathy, Nerve conduction study, Diagnosis, Prognosis