Ultrasound of the Radial Nerve: A Pictorial Review

Abstract

This pictorial review focuses on the ultrasound (US) appearance of the normal and pathological radial nerve (RN) and its branches and provides tips with which to locate them and avoid misinterpretation of normal findings. A wide range of our pathological cases are reviewed and presented to help in familiarizing the reader with common and uncommon clinical scenarios that affect the RN and its main branches.

Palsy of the posterior interosseous nerve treated by targeted ultrasound-guided perineural hydrodissection

“…In our patient, ultrasonography revealed fascicular constriction at the distal end of the supinator muscle, and the patient had weakness in thumb extension and index finger extension. Therefore, hourglass-like fascicular constriction at the descending branch was considered as the main cause (1,7) . Perineural hydrodissection is a minimally invasive technique to dissect the perineural plane and tissue space.…”

Radial nerve palsy: If in doubt, use ultrasound

“…The nerve may be either damaged in the trauma and/or after surgery due to orthopedic hardware or traction. In these injuries patients mainly present with wrist‐drop and normal function of the triceps muscle 1,2 …”

“…In these injuries patients mainly present with wrist-drop and normal function of the triceps muscle. 1,2 Although clinically a spiral groove injury was suspected, the electrodiagnostic finding of partial involvement of the triceps led to a closer examination of the RN proximal to the spiral groove, which demonstrated the exact site of damage.…”

Neuralgic Amyotrophy of Posterior Interosseous Nerve: A Cryptic and Crucial Entity

“…To the Editor: We read with great interest a recently published article entitled "Ultrasound of the Radial Nerve: A Pictorial Review" by Beciollini et al in your esteemed journal. 1 The manuscript is excellent and well describes the complex sonographic anatomy of the radial nerve, its branches and related pathologies. The illustrations are covering all the potential sites of compression of the radial nerve, its deep motor and sensory divisions.…”