title: Peripheral neuropathies associated with rheumatoid synovial cysts of the elbow joint: three case reports.
abstract: We present 3 cases with peripheral neuropathies of the median, posterior interosseous, and ulnar nerves associated with rheumatoid synovial cysts of the elbow joint. Magnetic resonance imaging and electrophysiological examination led to the final diagnosis of the relation to synovial cysts of the elbow joint. All patients underwent surgical decompression of these nerves and synovectomy of the elbow joint. Functional recovery was excellent in the 2 patients with median and posterior interosseous nerve palsy but incomplete in the patient with ulnar nerve palsy. Such neuropathies require consideration in the differential diagnosis of wrist and hand disability in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. This awareness should enhance early diagnosis and treatment by surgical decompression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Yamaguchi University School of Medicine, Yamaguchi, Japan. muramatsu@yamaguchi-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Keiichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Muramatsu
authors.forename: Takanori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kojima
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Tomoyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miyoshi
authors.forename: Toshihiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Taguchi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D013581:Synovial Cyst / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery