Radial paralysis
A radial paralysis (syn. Radialisparese) indicates damage to the radial nerve . It occurs primarily as a result of damage to the nerve in the radial canal of the upper arm, where it lies directly against the humerus . Common causes are fractures of the humerus , lying on the side for a long time with pressure on the upper arm (for example during anesthesia or when sleeping on a park bench (" park bench paralysis ", see also neurapraxia )), crutches (armpit supports, "American crutch") or chronic ones Lead poisoning .
Clinical picture
In this case, the wrist extensors and the extensors of the finger or, in animals, the front toe joints are paralyzed . Due to the relatively higher tone of the intact flexor muscles, the fingers are bent, as is the carpal joint (wrist). In humans, this is referred to as falling hand or kissing hand (similar to the posture when kissing the hand ), in animals as " killing over ".
If the damage is further proximal (near the shoulder joint ), the triceps are also paralyzed and the elbow joint can no longer be stretched. At the same time, there is a loss of sensitivity in the skin areas supplied.
A "drop hand" occurring directly after an operation in the arm area is not a compelling indication of the accidental severing of the nerve; more often there is a temporary loss of function due to squeezing / straining of the nerve, which occurs within a period of about three months without further treatment can heal. Special neurological examination methods such as electromyography can identify the extent and prognosis of the damage at an early stage.
therapy
If the nerve is definitely severed, it is possible to restore the function through direct nerve sutures or through an autologous transplant . To do this, a nerve is removed from another part of the body (for example the sural nerve from the calf) and the transection is bridged with it.
See also
Individual evidence
- ↑ Schünke et al .: Prometheus, Learning Atlas of Anatomy . Stuttgart, Thieme Verlag, ISBN 9783131395221 , p. 362.
literature
- Marco Mumenthaler , Manfred Stöhr, Hermann Müller-Vahl: Lesions of peripheral nerves and radicular syndromes. 8th edition. Thieme Stuttgart, 2003. ISBN 3-13-380208-9 .