radial nerve palsy
TRANSCRIPT
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Treatment of radial nerve palsyfollowing humerus shaft fractures
still a controversy?
Dr Uday Kumar MS(Orth) DNB(Orth)
Sagar HospitalsSindhi HospitalChinmaya Hospital
Bangalore
24th May 2014RATS
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• Incidence 11.8% of shaft fractures
(532 palsies in 4517 fractures).
• Primary - occurs @ injury
• Secondary - occurs later during
closed or open management
• Mangement controversial
Radial nerve palsy
Jbjs 2005
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• Transverse fractures of middle 1/3 most
commonly associated with neuropraxia
• Spiral fractures of distal 1/3 (Holstein-Lewis
fracture)-- higher risk of laceration or
entrapment of the radial nerve
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--a wrist drop splint is given
--static or dynamic splint
--exercises
Radial nerve palsy foll # humerusManagement
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• Spontaneous recovery of nerve function is
found in >70% of cases
• Even secondary palsies, those associated
with fracture manipulation, have a high rate
of spontaneous recovery
• 90% will resolve in 3 to 4 months
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Management
Controversies
---To explore or not to explore
---When to explore---Early---Late
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EXPLORE RADIAL NERVE
--ORIF HUMERUS---EXPLORE NERVE AND FIX
--OPEN FRACTURE HUMERUS
--RADIAL NERVE PALSY FOLLOWING CLOSED REDUCTION
--HOLSTEIN-LEWIS FRACTURE
The American Journal of Orthopedics®M. W. Heckler et al--2009
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Proponents of early exploration
-technically easier and safer
-clarifies diagnosis and extent of lesion
-OR reduces further nerve damage
-early means within 3 weeks
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Proponents of late exploration(wait for 4 months then explore)
-High rate of spontaneous recovery90% recover by 3 months
-avoid unnecessary nerve dissection as majority are neuropraxias
-easier to treat nerve injury after fracture has healed
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• Precise evaluation of a nerve lesion is
possible
• The associated fracture will(may) have
united
• The results of secondary repair are as good
as those of primary repair
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• Exploration for palsy in an open fracture is the
only indication that is not associated with
conflicting data
• For secondary palsies, it is not clearly
established that surgery will improve the
ultimate recovery rate compared to nonsurgical
management
Jbjs 2005
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• Review of 714 primary and 130 secondary palsies all
observed initially,
no difference noted in recovery rates (88.6% and
93.1%, respectively) after closed treatment
Hak D, Orthopedics 32:111 (2009)
• Early exploration may risk additional injury to nerve
if it is only contused
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Electro diagnostic studies
--done after 3-6 weeks after injury
--useful only after the process of walleriandegeneration has set in
--not able to distinguishbetween a severed nerve andunrecovered intact nerve
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Results from electrical studies parallel clinical findings.
Electrical signs of recovery occur no more than a month before recovery becomes apparent clinically
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Ultrasound exam of radial nerve
-done about 3 weeks after injury
-should be done by an experienced radiologist
-differentiates between a severed and intact nerve
-drawbacks: observer dependent
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How long to wait before exploration?
Shao et al-- the mean time to the onset of spontaneous recovery was 7.3 weeks-- minimum waiting time before exploration
- The optimal time of observation before intervention has been debated, but no clear answer is universally supported
- About 4 -6 months
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Nerve exploration, neurolysis and nerve grafting
most appropriatein patients who can tolerate
--- a wrist brace--- long recovery periods and --- an uncertain outcome
--- reserved for patients 6 to 12 months from injury with no signs of recovery.
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Tendon transfers
Indications
-persistent palsy after an extended recovery period
-persistent palsy after neurolysis or nerve grafting
-patients who want rapid return of nerve function
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-timing---usually at least a year from injuryto allow for possible recovery
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ConclusionsRadial nerve palsy following # shaft humerus
-Recovery occurs in 90% cases in 3-4 months
-Early exploration is indicated in ORIF, open fractures-Exploration for secondary nerve palsy and
Holstein-Lewis # remains equivocal
-Electrodiagnostic studies do not differentiatebetween a severed nerve and an unrecovered intact nerve
-Tendon transfers should be done if there ispersistent palsy after 1 year after injury
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