Radial tunnel syndrome caused by ganglion cyst: treatment by arthroscopic cyst decompression

Compressive neuropathies of the radial nerve at the elbow can lead to one of 2 clinical entities. Posterior interosseous syndrome is primarily a motor deficiency of the posterior interosseous nerve, and radial tunnel syndrome presents as pain along the radial tunnel and extensor muscle mass. The radial nerve can be compressed at a number of sites around the elbow. In addition, numerous mass lesions reported in the literature can cause compressive neuropathy of the radial nerve at the elbow. Standard surgical management for persistent radial tunnel syndrome that is refractory to nonsurgical treatment is open decompression of the radial nerve. Cysts occurring in other joints are commonly treated arthroscopically. Supraglenoid cysts of the shoulder, meniscal cysts in the knee, and dorsal wrist ganglia are routinely treated with arthroscopic decompression or excision with management of the underlying etiology of the cyst. We present a case of radial tunnel syndrome caused by a ganglion cyst of the proximal radioulnar joint that was treated using arthroscopic excision of the cyst and decompression of the radial nerve.