Abstract
There are five sites at which radial nerve entrapment at the elbow has been commonly reported. These include the level of the fibrous bands within the extensor carpi radialis brevis, the thickened fascial tissue at the radiocapitellar joint, the leash of Henry, the arcade of Frohse, and the distal border of the supinator muscle. This review describes the anatomy of the radial nerve at the elbow and the surrounding structures, and then provides an overview of the literature supporting the use of ultrasound to assist in the evaluation of suspected radial neuropathy at the elbow. This review concludes with a suggested ultrasonographic approach for the systematic evaluation of suspected radial neuropathy at the elbow.
Highlights
The radial nerve is one of the major nerves of the upper extremity and one of the main branches of the brachial plexus
The overall goal of this article is to define the anatomy of the radial nerve at the elbow, clarify the potential sites of radial nerve compression at the elbow, describe the studies involving ultrasound of the radial nerve at this site, and outline a clinical neuromuscular ultrasound approach for evaluation of radial neuropathy at the elbow
The first location of potential radial mononeuropathy at the elbow is the floor of the radial tunnel, which is the fascial tissue of the radiocapitellar joint
Summary
There are five sites at which radial nerve entrapment at the elbow has been commonly reported. These include the level of the fibrous bands within the extensor carpi radialis brevis, the thickened fascial tissue at the radiocapitellar joint, the leash of Henry, the arcade of Frohse, and the distal border of the supinator muscle. This review describes the anatomy of the radial nerve at the elbow and the surrounding structures, and provides an overview of the literature supporting the use of ultrasound to assist in the evaluation of suspected radial neuropathy at the elbow. This review concludes with a suggested ultrasonographic approach for the systematic evaluation of suspected radial neuropathy at the elbow
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