Use of Supinator Motor Branches in Targeted Muscle Reinnervation of the Superficial Radial Nerve

Abstract

Summary: Symptomatic neuromas of the superficial radial nerve (SRN) can cause debilitating pain. Traditional surgical management options have demonstrated inconsistent outcomes prompting a search for alternatives. Recent reports have emerged on the use of targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR) for neuromas of the SRN using donors that are well established in hand surgery, such as the brachioradialis (BR) or extensor capri radialis longus or brevis. Use of the brachioradialis or extensor capri radialis longus motor targets can require surgery at or above the level of the antecubital fossa, and denervation of these muscle groups may be undesirable in cases of complex upper extremity injury where these donors may be needed for tendon or nerve transfer. The supinator is an expendable and often overlooked donor nerve that has not been assessed as a target for TMR of the SRN. In this case series, three patients with SRN neuromas whose conservative management failed and who did not have an SRN lesion amenable to reconstruction were managed with TMR to the nerves to supinator. At latest follow-up (9–22 months), no patients had deficits in supination or evident donor site morbidity. Two patients reported complete resolution of their SRN neuroma pain, and one patient reported partial improvement. This case series reports early results of TMR of the SRN using nerves to supinator in cases of SRN neuromas not amenable to reconstruction, demonstrating technical feasibility, improvements in neuroma pain, and no discernible donor morbidity.