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Upper limb nerve injury rehabilitation: radial nerve

The radial nerve emerges through the posterior bundle of the brachial plexus, starts behind the axillary artery, travels with the deep brachial artery, descends between the long head and medial head of the triceps brachii, and follows the radial nerve groove around the back of the middle part of the humerus to spiral outward and downward. It reaches slightly above the lateral epicondyle of the humerus, passes through the lateral intermuscular septum, reaches between the brachialis and brachioradialis, and then continues down the forearm between the brachioradialis and extensor carpi radialis longus.

1. External force causes nerves to be stretched or compressed

2. Fractures, which may also be injured during the healing process

3. Cutting wounds, bullet wounds, etc.

4. Surgical injuries



1. Radial nerve trunk injury: The most vulnerable parts are the back of the mid-arm and the radial nerve groove adjacent to the humerus (fractures at the mid-humerus or the junction of the middle and lower 1/3 are prone to radial nerve injury). Movement disorders are manifested in the forearm extensor muscles. Paralysis, that is, a "wrist-drooping" state occurs when raising the forearm; sensory impairment is most obvious in the "tiger's mouth area" on the back of the space between the 1st and 2nd metacarpal bones. 2. Injury to the deep branch of the radial nerve: it passes through the supinator muscle and runs near the radius (radial neck fracture). The main symptom is weak wrist extension (the function of the extensor carpi radialis longus muscle is good), and the wrist is obviously affected when extending the wrist. The ground is deviated to the radial side, and the fingers and thumb cannot be extended.



1. Test wrist droop.

2. When the wrist is in the neutral position, the metacarpophalangeal joints and interphalangeal joints cannot be extended. When the hand is suspended in a flexed position, the interphalangeal joints can be straightened.

3. The movement of the distal segment of the thumb can complete the extension to the palmar side due to muscle compensation.

4. Forearm resisted supination test: The patient sits, bends the elbow, and pronates the forearm. The examiner fixes the upper limb to be tested with his hand and asks the patient to supinate forcefully. If there is lateral soreness, it is positive, indicating dorsal interosseous nerve entrapment. or radial tunnel syndrome.

5. Middle finger test: The patient sits and stretches the elbow, wrist and fingers with force. If the examiner suddenly flexes the elbow, causing pain in the elbow, the test is positive, indicating dorsal interosseous nerve entrapment or radial tunnel syndrome.

Cutaneous sensory disturbance on the back of the proximal joints of the radial half and radial two and a half fingers of the dorsum of the hand