title: Nontraumatic paralysis of the radial nerve with multiple constrictions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To present an uncommon lesion of radial nerve paralysis with multiple constrictions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight patients were treated in our department between January 1994 and August 2000. There were 4 men and 4 women with a mean age of 26 years (10-43 y). The radial nerves of all patients were explored. There were 1 to 5 segmental constrictive lesions at the main trunks of the radial nerves or the posterior interosseous nerves; no obvious extrinsic compression was noted. Epineurolysis was performed in 3 patients, in the other 5 patients the constricted portions of the nerves were resected, and neurorrhaphy was performed in 2 patients, nerve-grafting in 3. Histologic examination of the resected portions showed concentration of inflammatory cells around the vessels in the perineurium.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients were followed-up for 6 months to 4 years after surgery. Seven patients had at least grade 4 muscle strength in the involved muscles. One patient who was treated by external neurolysis 15 months after onset had no signs of recovery 10 months after surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nontraumatic paralysis of the radial nerve with multiple constrictions is very uncommon. The etiology may be a focal inflammatory response around the feeding arteries in the perineurium.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand Surgery, Jishuitan Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Pan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yongwei
authors.forename: Tian
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Guanglei
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jianing
authors.forename: Wang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Shuhuan
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Qingtai
authors.forename: Tian
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010243:Paralysis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D011826:Radial Nerve / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome