Radial nerve injury after intravenous cannulation at the wrist--a case report.
Peripheral venous cannulation is one of the commonest procedures performed in hospitals. The dorso-lateral aspect of the wrist is one of the favourite sites. Radial nerve injury, though extremely rare, can be a serious complication and has been reported twice. One patient was left with a permanent work disability due to a painful neuroma. Another patient required surgical intervention to remove a neuroma six months after the initial venous cannulation resulting in almost complete recovery. We report the first case of injury to the radial nerve at the wrist as a complication of venous cannulation where complete recovery occurred spontaneously. In our case, immediate removal of the cannula may be responsible for the improved outcome.
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Department of Anaesthesia, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong.
Sanders
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T K
TK
Hung
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CT
D000328:Adult; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010292:Paresthesia / Q000209:etiology; D011826:Radial Nerve / Q000293:injuries* / Q000503:physiopathology; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013997:Time Factors; D014953:Wrist / Q000098:blood supply*