Background

Wrist pain is a common complaint for many patients. There are many etiologies attributed for the development of chronic dorsoradial wrist pain [1]. It is usually due to musculoskeletal problems as de Quervain’s disease, ganglion, joint sprain, and arthritis. However, superficial radial neuropathy is a less common neurological cause for chronic dorsoradial wrist pain [2,3,4].

Superficial radial neuropathy is a pure sensory neuropathy [5, 6]. It is known as cheiralgia paresthetica or Wartenberg disease [7, 8]. It leads to pain and sensory disturbances over the dorsolateral surface of the hand and the dorsum of the lateral three and half fingers till the level of the distal interphalangeal joints without any muscle weakness. Tinel’s sign could be present at the site of nerve entrapment by tapping the superficial radial nerve (SRN) along its course. This provocative maneuver supports the diagnosis with clinical history and examination. Associating feature is increasing the symptoms by wrist ulnar deviation giving a false-positive Finkelstein’s test and Eichoff’s test provided that there is no de Quervain’s disease [2, 9,10,11,12]. These maneuvers stretch the nerve, and the symptoms increase if the nerve is irritated [2, 9,10,11]. Superficial radial neuropathy could be due to many causes [8,9,10,11, 13].

The SRN is one of the two terminal branches of the radial nerve. The nerve roots of the SRN are cervical (C) 6 and C7 nerve roots. It descends down the forearm deep to the brachioradialis muscle on the lateral side of the radial artery over the radial bone. In the distal forearm, the nerve becomes superficial. It travels subcutaneously next to the radius. Subsequently, it is susceptible to injury. It is easily compressed by tight watch straps, bracelets, and handcuffs or traumatized. It enters the hand passing superficial to the anatomical snuff box tendons on the dorsolateral aspect of the wrist. Its territory is the lateral two thirds of the dorsum of the hand and the dorsum of the lateral three and half fingers till the level of the distal interphalangeal joints (Figs. 1 and 2) [14].

Fig. 1
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An illustration representing the terminal anatomical course of superficial radial nerve [14]

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Fig. 2
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An illustration representing the sensory territory of superficial radial nerve [14]

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Although textbooks mention superficial radial neuropathy in the differential diagnosis of chronic dorsoradial wrist pain, there are scanty studies in literature which assessed this issue [4, 9]. It is frequently under-diagnosed source of chronic dorsoradial wrist pain [9]. However, it is usually mentioned in the literature as case reports [7, 10, 15]. The purpose of the research was to investigate the existence of superficial radial neuropathy as a cause of chronic dorsoradial wrist pain.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included 98 upper limbs obtained from 72 patients with a primary complaint of chronic dorsoradial wrist pain. The research included 91 asymptomatic upper limbs obtained from 63 apparently healthy individuals as a control group. They were selected randomly from those attending the clinic of the researcher’s department. The inclusion and exclusion criteria are illustrated in Fig. 3. The participants received an explanation regarding the research and gave an informed consent. The local Ethics Committee accepted the research.

Fig. 3
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The inclusion and exclusion criteria of the study

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Demographic data collection and anthropometric measurements including body mass index (BMI) assessment were collected [16]. The presence of any burning pain, paresthesia, or numbness over the sensory territory of SRN was asked for. Severity of the dorsoradial wrist pain was measured using visual analog scale (VAS) (0 indicated no pain while 10 indicated extreme intolerable pain) [17]. Clinical examination was done which included musculoskeletal and neurological examination. The presence of any objective sensory alteration (hypoesthesia or anesthesia) in the territory of SRN was documented [4]. Tinel’s sign was assessed by tapping the SRN within the area of the radial styloid process to an area about 10 cm proximal to the wrist on the lateral aspect of the forearm where the SRN pierce the deep fascia to be in the subcutaneous tissue [9, 11]. Finkelstein’s test was done. It was done as follows: ulnar deviation of the wrist while grasping the thumb in flexion by the examiner. This test was positive, if dorsoradial wrist pain appeared or increased with this maneuver [2, 4, 9,10,11]. Eichoff’s test was done. It was done as follows: the patient clenched his or her thumb in a fist, then the examiner deviated the wrist ulnarly. This test was positive, if dorsoradial wrist pain appeared or increased with this maneuver [4, 9, 11, 12].

Neurophysiological assessment was done using a Nihon Kohden Neuropack S1 MEB-9400 unit with a two-channel machine (Nihon Kohden Corp., Japan). SRN sensory conduction antidromic study was performed. Details of the technique are illustrated in Fig. 4 [6, 13, 18, 19].

Fig. 4
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Illustration of the superficial radial nerve sensory conduction study using an antidromic technique. It shows the stimulation and recording positions [6, 13, 18, 19]. Ground, ground electrode; G1, active recording surface disc electrode; G2, reference surface disc electrode; Stimulator, electrical bipolar stimulator; SNAP, sensory nerve action potential; mA, milliampere; ms, millisecond; μV, microvolt; Hz, Hertz; kHz, kilohertz; mm, millimeter

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Criteria for diagnosing superficial radial neuropathy is tabulated in Table 1 [2, 4, 9,10,11, 13, 20]. Patients were classified into two groups depending on the existence of superficial radial neuropathy. Patients with superficial radial neuropathy were considered group I, while group II included patients without superficial radial neuropathy.

Table 1 Criteria for diagnosing superficial radial neuropathy [2, 4, 9,10,11, 13, 20]
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The data was analyzed using the SPSS software (version 17). Descriptive measures and analytic measures were used. Student’s t-test, analysis of variance test (ANOVA), Pearson chi-square test, and Fisher’s exact test (if needed) were used. Bonferroni’s multiple comparison test (post hoc analysis) was done if required. Statistical significant was obtained for any P < 0.05. The cut-off values of the neurophysiological parameters were calculated by using the mean ± two standard deviations (SD) as appropriate.

Results

The study included 98 upper limbs with chronic dorsoradial wrist pain obtained from 72 patients [58 women (80.6%)]. There were 26 patients (36.1%) with bilateral complaint. Their mean age was 40.45 ± 12.16 years and ranged from 19 to 68 years. The control group consisted of 91 asymptomatic upper limbs obtained from 63 apparently healthy individuals [46 women (73.0%)]. Both upper limbs of 28 apparently healthy individuals (44.4%) were assessed. Their mean age was 42.04 ± 10.07 years and ranged from 19 to 63 years. No statistically significant differences were present between the two groups regarding sex (P = 0.299) and age (P = 0.410). The clinical characteristics of the two groups are tabulated in Table 2.

Table 2 Clinical characteristics of the patients and control groups
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The reference cut-off values of the SRN sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) parameters obtained from the control subjects were as follows: peak latency (PL) ≤ 2.9 ms, conduction velocity (CV) ≥ 47.1 m/s, and SNAP amplitude ≥ 10 μV. Side-to-side SNAP amplitude ratio was obtained from 28 subjects who had bilateral SRN sensory conduction study. Its mean value was 0.78 ± 0.15. While the cut-off value of side-to-side SNAP amplitude ratio was ≥ 0.5. Figures 5 and 6 illustrate SRN SNAPs.

Fig. 5
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Sample tracings show the superficial radial nerve sensory nerve action potentials of an apparently healthy individual

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Fig. 6
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Sample tracings show the superficial radial nerve sensory nerve action potentials of a patient with superficial radial neuropathy

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Patients with superficial radial neuropathy constituted group I, while patients without superficial radial neuropathy constituted group II (Fig. 7). Eight patients (11.1%) with bilateral chronic dorsoradial wrist pain had superficial radial neuropathy unilaterally. Group I consisted of 29 upper limbs (29.6%) from 26 patients (36.1%) who had superficial radial neuropathy proved clinically and electrophysiologically. Group II consisted of 69 upper limbs (70.4%) from 54 patients (75%) who had no superficial radial neuropathy (Fig. 7).

Fig. 7
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An illustration representing the study flow chart of patients with chronic dorsoradial wrist pain. Among all participated patients, there were 26 patients (36.1%) with bilateral complaint. There were eight patients (11.1%) with bilateral chronic dorsoradial wrist pain who had superficial radial neuropathy unilaterally. Among group I, there were three patients (11.5%) who had bilateral superficial radial neuropathy. Among group II, bilateral upper limbs affection were obtained from 15 patients (27.8%). n, number

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Among group I, there were three patients (11.5%) who had bilateral superficial radial neuropathy. The SRN SNAP was unobtainable in five upper limbs (17.2%) of four patients (15.4%) in group I. No patients had motor symptoms or muscle weakness by clinical examination of the upper limbs.

Comparison between the two patients’ groups and control group regarding clinical characteristics and SRN sensory conduction study parameters are shown in Table 3. Statistically significant differences were present between the three groups in respect to different parameters of SRN SNAP. The SRN SNAP PL was significantly delayed among group I patients in comparison to group II patients and control group. Also, SRN SNAP CV was significantly slowed among group I patients in comparison to group II patients and control group. The SRN SNAP amplitude was significantly reduced among group I patients in comparison to group II patients and control group (Table 3).

Table 3 Comparison between the two patients’ groups and control group regarding different assessed parameters
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The final diagnosis of patients in the study is demonstrated in Table 4. Among group I patients, superficial radial neuropathy was the solitary cause of chronic dorsoradial wrist pain in 15 upper limbs (51.7%) from 13 patients (50%). It was associated with other local wrist pathologies in the remaining group I patients. The most common pathology was de Quervain’s disease in eight upper limbs (27.6%) from eight patients (30.8%).

Table 4 Diagnosis of patients with chronic dorsoradial wrist pain in both patients’ groups
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Discussion

Superficial radial neuropathy is a potential etiology of chronic dorsoradial wrist pain [4, 5, 21]. However, it was considered a rare condition [5]. It is usually under-recognized etiology of chronic dorsoradial wrist pain. Its symptoms are usually subjective; subsequently, it is usually under-diagnosed [15].

Among our patients with chronic dorsoradial wrist pain, superficial radial neuropathy was found in 29 upper limbs (29.6%) obtained from 26 patients (36.1%). Among those patients with superficial radial neuropathy (group I), it was the only diagnosis of chronic dorsoradial wrist pain in 15 upper limbs (51.7%) of 13 patients (50%). However, it was associated with other wrist pathology in the remaining 14 upper limbs (48.3%) obtained from 13 patients (50%). Despite that superficial radial neuropathy was considered a rare condition, its prevalence in this study could be an indication that it was an underestimated health problem among patients with chronic dorsoradial wrist pain.

Superficial radial neuropathy could be due to many causes. It could be an entrapment neuropathy at its fascial penetration point. The entrapment could occur at the site of emergence of the nerve from beneath the edge of the brachioradialis tendon at the site of piercing the deep fascia to be subcutaneously between the brachioradialis tendon and extensor carpi radialis longus tendon [2]. This could be due to pinching the nerve by the brachioradialis and extensor carpi radialis longus tendons or even between the two slips of a split brachioradialis tendon [22]. It could be due to SRN stretching without any obvious structural changes. Repeated forceful pronation and supination of the forearm especially with wrist adduction results in SRN compression and stretching with subsequent nerve irritation. This could be due to job-related activities with repetitive pronation or flexion with wrist in ulnar deviation position [23]. This is considered a dynamic compression neuropathy [9].

Moreover, such neuropathy could be compression of the SRN distally due to external forces as compression by tight watch straps, tight bracelets, and tight handcuffs [9, 24,25,26,27]. Compression of the SRN can be due to a space-occupying lesion as a ganglion cyst or even a lipoma or fibroma [28,29,30,31,32]. Due to the superficial course of the SRN, it is liable for local trauma. It could be due to direct blunt trauma or skin injuries and laceration to the lateral aspect of the distal forearm [33]. Blunt trauma can cause post-traumatic fibrosis and adhesions with post-traumatic neuroma formation associated with subcutaneous rupture of the SRN [33]. Superficial radial neuropathy could occur with de Quervain’s disease by several mechanisms [24]. It could occur in patients with diabetes mellitus as a neurological complication among them or even idiopathic affection [34]. It could be due to compression by an enlarged union site callus of Colles’ fracture at the distal radius bone [27].

Iatrogenic injury to the SRN could be due to orthopedic surgeries in the lower lateral forearm region as in surgical treatment of de Quervain’s disease in the form of first dorsal compartment release [35, 36]. Open reduction and internal fixation surgery for distal forearm bone fracture could lead to irritation of the SRN by stretch injury and direct contusion, as well as entrapment by bony spikes [27]. It could be due to K-wire insertion. It could be due to local corticosteroid injection for treatment of de Quervain’s disease, or attempted placement of intravenous lines or shunts for hemodialysis when it is applied near the lateral aspect of the wrist. These result in nerve compression by scarring and fibrosis, and even direct nerve injury could take place [23, 24]. It could be due to external compression by tight wrist splints (for example for carpal tunnel syndrome treatment) or even tight plaster cast in cases of forearm fracture [7, 8, 37].

The current study was in agreement with previous studies regarding the different etiological factors for development of superficial radial neuropathy [5, 9, 11, 24, 25]. Braidwood described 12 patients with superficial radial neuropathy. Trauma was the cause in five patients (41.7%), postoperative in two patients (16.7%), tight wrist band in one patient (8.3%) and idiopathic in four patients (33.3%) [5]. Stahl and Kaufman described 15 patients with superficial radial neuropathy [9]. Trauma was the cause in three patients (20%), job-related habitual movements in five patients (33.4%), tight watch strap in two patients (13.3%), tight plaster cast in two patients (13.3%), tight handcuffs in one patient (6.7%), and idiopathic in two patients (13.3%) [9]. Lanzetta and Foucher reported 52 upper limbs with superficial radial neuropathy obtained from 50 patients (two patients had bilateral affection) [11]. It was associated with de Qervain’s disease in 26 upper limbs (50%), dorsal wrist ganglion of the first dorsal compartment in two upper limbs (3.8%), tight watch strap in eight upper limbs (15.4%), work related in four upper limbs (7.7%), and trauma in 13 upper limbs (25%) [11]. Calfee et al. reported 25 upper limbs with superficial radial neuropathy from 23 patients [24]. It was associated with de Qervain’s disease in 13 upper limbs (52%), dorsal wrist ganglion in one upper limb (4%), handcuffs in four upper limbs (16%), trauma in three upper limbs (12%), and postoperative in four upper limbs (16%) [24].

About 27.6% of patients in group I with superficial radial neuropathy were associated with de Quervain’s disease. This was in agreement with previous studies [9, 11, 24, 35, 38]. Stahl and Kaufman reported that 33% of their patients with superficial radial neuropathy had associated other soft tissue rheumatism as de Quervain’s disease [9]. De Quervain’s disease is characterized by chronic inflammatory reaction leading to stenosing tenosynovitis of the first dorsal compartment tendons. This could be suggested that inflamed soft tissues surrounding the SRN could make the SRN to be inflamed consequently [9, 38]. Chronic de Quervain’s disease results in swelling and distension of the extensor retinaculum related to the first dorsal extensor compartment resulting in overstretching of the SRN [39]. The SRN could be adherent to the extensor retinaculum secondary to its swelling in chronic de Quervain’s disease [11, 38, 40]. There is fibrosis with fibrocartilagenous metaplasia in the extensor retinaculum. Both abductor pollicis longus (APL) and extensor pollicis brevis (EPB) tendons become entrapped within the narrowed extensor compartment. This results in impairment of their normal sliding movement. Traction of the SRN could occur with wrist ulnar deviation due to limited APL and EPB tendon movement and sliding due to increased resistant to the tendon gliding movements within the stenosed first dorsal compartment [11, 38, 40].

The study agreed with Bun et al. regarding SRN SNAP PL [41]. It was in accordance with Bun et al. and Kona et al. regarding SRN SNAP amplitude [41, 42]. However, it was not in agreement with Echternach et al. regarding SRN SNAP CV and amplitude. In their study, SRN SNAP CV was faster and amplitude was larger than that reported in the present work [43]. The study was not agreed with Thakur et al. regarding SRN SNAP amplitude. In their work, SNAP amplitude was smaller than that in the present study [44]. These differences could be due to differences in the studied populations regarding age and race. Echternach et al. and Thakur et al. studied subjects who were younger than the control group of the current research [18, 19, 43, 44].

Managment of superficial radial neuropathy includes conservative and operative treatment. Conservative tratment includes rest, splinting, activity modifications with cessation of activities aggravating the pain, soft tissue mobilization, neurodynamic exercises, electroanalgesic current, anticonvulsant drugs for neuropathic pain, vitamin B complex supplementations, local injection of corticosteroid, and treating the underlying etiology [2, 9, 23, 24, 29, 45]. Surgical treatment includes neurolysis. It is indicated for recalcitrant cases and involves decompression of the SRN from the radial styloid process [10, 24].

It is important to draw attention to the presence of superficial radial neuroapthy. It should be taken into consideration in dealing with patients with chronic dorsoradial wrist pain. Meticulous history taking and careful clinical examination in asscoaition with proper investigation in the form of electrohysiological study will help in the proper diagnosis of superficial radial neuroapthy whenever suspicion for its occurrence is present [11]. The symptoms of superficial radial neuroapthy are usually subjective. The clinical manifestations are usually unreliable, and its electrophysiological assessment is usually not routinely done [6].

This condition could be overlooked or unobserved as a local musculoskeletal disorder [9]. It is usually missed because its clinical manifestations are usually overlooked by the more common prevalence and more apparent clinical features of other dorsoradial wrist musculoskeletal disorders and injuries, which draw the attention of the treating physicians. Usually, its diagnosis is delayed because it is mistaken for other pathological conditions that are more common as de Quervain’s disease [10, 28, 46]. According to the results of the current study, superficial radial neuropathy should not be considered a rare condition. It is present and should be serached for. As long as it is in the mind of the physician, it will be diagnosed easily and readily [47]. It should be taken into consideration when proper medical treatment for chronic dorsoradial wrist pain failed to improve the diagnosed condition as de Quervain’s disease for example.

Superficial radial neuropathy must be searched for before surgical treatment of any dorsoradial musculoskeletal wrist pathology as de Quervain’s disease or surgical excision of a dorsal wrist ganglion from the first dorsal compartment [11]. Because if it is present, it could result in persistence of patient’s complaints following surgery.

Limitations of the research included the following: (I) the inclusion of relatively small number of male patients. Females are more common to suffer regional musculoskeletal disorders than males [48, 49]. (II) Musculoskeletal ultrasonography and neuromuscular ultrasonography to the dorsoradial wrist region were not performed. They could reveal causes of dorsoradial wrist pain as tenosynovitis, intersection syndrome, space-occupying lesions such as ganglion cyst, and neuroma of the SRN [1, 21]. (III) This study was conducted in the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation clinic only. It did not recruit patients from clinics of other specialties (example: Orthopedic Surgery clinics) where patients with chronic dorsoradial wrist pain could seek medical advice. Future studies should be conducted on a larger scale in collaboration with different specialities dealing with paitents with chronic dorsoradial wrist pain. This aims to verify the obtained results.

Conclusions

In conclusion, superficial radial neuropathy is common among patients with chronic dorsoradial wrist pain and should be considered in the differential diagnosis.