[Bilateral radial nerve paralysis. Diagnostic and differential diagnostic aspects]

Bilateral radial nerve palsies are rare, and hence in this situation an underlying generalized peripheral neuropathy must always be considered. Among 103 patients with radial nerve palsies seen at our department during the last five years, there were three cases presenting with bilateral non-traumatic radial nerve palsies. These patients are presented in detail. One had a bilateral nerve entrapment in the supinator channel associated with a neuropathy of unclear origin, the second had bilateral sleep palsy, and the third had mononeuropathy multiplex associated with HIV infection. Following a summary of the cases reported in the literature, diagnostic considerations and additional investigations are discussed.