Wrist drop pathophysiology

Jump to navigation Jump to search

Wrist Drop Microchapters

Home

Patient Information

Overview

Anatomy

Pathophysiology

Causes

Differentiating Wrist Drop from other Diseases

Epidemiology and Demographics

Risk Factors

Natural History, Complications and Prognosis

Diagnosis

History and Symptoms

Physical Examination

Laboratory Findings

X Ray

CT

MRI

Other Diagnostic Studies

Treatment

Medical Therapy

Surgery

Primary Prevention

Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy

Future or Investigational Therapies

Case Studies

Case #1

Wrist drop pathophysiology On the Web

Most recent articles

Most cited articles

Review articles

CME Programs

Powerpoint slides

Images

American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Wrist drop pathophysiology

All Images
X-rays
Echo & Ultrasound
CT Images
MRI

Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov

US National Guidelines Clearinghouse

NICE Guidance

FDA on Wrist drop pathophysiology

CDC on Wrist drop pathophysiology

Wrist drop pathophysiology in the news

Blogs on Wrist drop pathophysiology

Directions to Hospitals Treating Wrist drop

Risk calculators and risk factors for Wrist drop pathophysiology

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor-In-Chief: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [2]

Pathophysiology

Wrist extension is achieved by muscles in the forearm contracting, pulling on tendons that attach distal to (beyond) the wrist. If the tendons, the muscles, or the nerves supplying these muscles, are not working as they should be, wrist drop may occur. The following situations may result in wrist drop:

Stab wounds to the chest at or below the clavicle may result in wrist drop. The radial nerve is the terminal branch of the posterior cord of the brachial plexus. A stab wound may damage the posterior cord and result in neurological deficeits including an inability to abduct the shoulder beyond 15 degrees, an inability to extend the forearm, reduced ability to supinate the hand, reduced ability to abduct the thumb and sensory loss to the posterior surface of the arm and hand.

The radial nerve can be damaged if the humerus (the bone of the arm) is broken, because it runs through the radial groove on the lateral border of this bone.

Wrist drop is also associated with lead poisoning because of the effect of lead on the radial nerve.[1]

Persistent injury to the nerve is also a common cause through either repetitive motion or by applying pressure externally along the route of the radial nerve as in the prolonged use of crutches or extended leaning on the elbows.

References

  1. Dedeken P, Louw V, Vandooren AK, Geert V, Goossens W, Dubois B (2006). "Plumbism or lead intoxication mimicking an abdominal tumor". Journal of general internal medicine : official journal of the Society for Research and Education in Primary Care Internal Medicine. 21 (6): C1–3. doi:10.1111/j.1525-1497.2006.00328.x. PMID 16808730.


Template:WikiDoc Sources