Treatment of Refractory Radial Sensory Neuroma With Function-Sparing Targeted Muscle Reinnervation to the Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis

Hatcher G Cox; Cyril S Gary; Grant M Kleiber

doi:10.1016/j.jhsg.2022.01.006

Treatment of Refractory Radial Sensory Neuroma With Function-Sparing Targeted Muscle Reinnervation to the Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis

J Hand Surg Glob Online. 2022 Feb 10;5(1):112-115. doi: 10.1016/j.jhsg.2022.01.006. eCollection 2023 Jan.

Authors

Hatcher G Cox¹, Cyril S Gary¹, Grant M Kleiber¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Plastic Surgery, Medstar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC.

Abstract

The radial sensory nerve can be injured during many common procedures, including intravenous cannulation, first extensor compartment release, and radial-sided wrist surgery. Injury to the nerve may result in neuroma formation that can lead to chronic and debilitating pain. Nonsurgical treatments and surgical interventions, including excision of the neuroma and burying the nerve into local muscle, are frequently ineffective. Here, we present a technique for treating recalcitrant neuromas of the radial sensory nerve with targeted muscle reinnervation to a redundant motor nerve branch of the extensor carpi radialis brevis.

Keywords: Pain; Peripheral nerve; Targeted muscle reinnervation; Upper extremity.