Radial Nerve Injury

The human hand receives three main nerves from the spinal cord ; namely median nerve, ulnar nerve and radial nerve. Radial nerve helps in extending (straightening) the elbow, extending the wrist and fingers ( releasing the fingers from an object ).

Radial nerves may be injured by direct impact over the nerve, compressions over the nerve or by cut injuries. “ Saturday night palsy “ which occurs due to compression on nerve while sleeping , is a classical example of direct compression injury to the radial nerve.

Management of such injuries depends on the mechanism of injury sustained. Acute cut injuries are repaired microscopically whereas chronic injuries may need tendon transfers to correct the disability.