[Surgical decompression of bilateral, compression-induced damage to the posterior interosseous nerve. A case report]

Bilateral posterior interosseous nerve palsy is a rare case of radial nerve entrapment. The patient is unable to extend the fingers in the metacarpophalangeal joints. Extension of the interphalangeal joints is preserved due to the intrinsic muscles. Neither the extensor carpi radialis longus and brevis muscles are affected nor the brachioradialis muscle. However, extension of the wrist may be weak. There is no sensory loss. The neurophysiological examination underlines the clinical findings. In our case compression is caused by the arcade of Frohse and the vessels of the recurrent radial artery. A good recovery of nerve function is seen after surgical decompression.