From the Research
The radial nerve in the forearm passes through the interval between the brachioradialis and extensor carpi radialis longus muscles. This anatomical arrangement is crucial for understanding the potential sites of nerve compression, which can lead to various clinical syndromes. The radial nerve's course and branching pattern are essential for diagnosing nerve entrapment syndromes, planning surgical approaches to the forearm, and properly localizing neurological deficits in patients presenting with weakness in finger and wrist extension 1.
Key Points
- The radial nerve divides into a superficial branch and a deep branch (posterior interosseous nerve) at the level of the lateral epicondyle.
- The deep branch then traverses through the supinator muscle via the arcade of Frohse before continuing into the posterior compartment of the forearm.
- Compression of the nerve can occur at these muscle intervals, particularly at the supinator muscle (leading to posterior interosseous nerve syndrome) or where the superficial branch courses under the brachioradialis (causing Wartenberg's syndrome).
- Understanding this muscle interval is vital for clinical management and surgical planning, as highlighted in recent anatomical studies 1, 2.
Clinical Significance
The identification of the radial nerve's muscle interval in the forearm is critical for:
- Diagnosing nerve entrapment syndromes
- Planning surgical approaches to the forearm
- Properly localizing neurological deficits in patients presenting with weakness in finger and wrist extension
- Avoiding iatrogenic nerve injury during surgical procedures in the forearm and wrist, as emphasized by studies on nerve anatomy and surgical techniques 3, 4, 5.