Radial tunnel syndrome: diagnosis and management

This study presents a review of 26 cases of radial tunnel syndrome in 25 patients seen in a single hand consultant's practice over a period of 2.5 years. The protocol for diagnosis was the reproduction of patient's symptoms on pressure over a palpable tender spot along the course of the radial tunnel, painful resisted supination or resisted middle finger extension, all of which were abolished on infiltration of the tender area with a local anaesthetic solution. The presence of at least two out of three objective signs was necessary for the diagnosis. Initially all cases were treated conservatively, by steroid injection in 25 and physiotherapy in one, with long-term relief of pain in 16. Nine failures were treated surgically, with complete relief of pain in seven. Radial tunnel syndrome should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pain around the hand and or elbow.