TY - JOUR T1 - Evaluation of Patients Referred for Isolated Distal Upper Limb Extensor Weakness: A Retrospective Electrophysiological Study TT - İzole Distal Üst Ekstremite Ekstansör Güçsüzlük Nedeniyle Yönlendirilen Hastaların Değerlendirilmesi: Retrospektif Elektrofizyolojik Çalışma AU - Aykaç, Şeyma AU - İbiş Göksal, Seray AU - Arı, Abdullah AU - Aşıkdoğan, Esra AU - Aydoğdu, İbrahim PY - 2025 DA - September Y2 - 2025 DO - 10.20515/otd.1768712 JF - Osmangazi Tıp Dergisi PB - Eskişehir Osmangazi Üniversitesi WT - DergiPark SN - 1305-4953 SP - 931 EP - 938 VL - 47 IS - 6 LA - en AB - This study investigated the clinical and electrophysiological features of patients with isolated distal upper extremity extensor weakness, focusing on etiologies and anatomical levels of peripheral nerve involvement. A retrospective review included 57 patients evaluated between 2007 and 2025 with wrist or finger drop. All underwent motor and sensory conduction studies of the median, ulnar, and radial nerves, as well as needle EMG of radial nerve–innervated muscles and C7–C8 roots. Radial nerve lesions were classified into three levels: Level 1 (proximal to the triceps branch), Level 2 (distal to triceps and proximal to supinator branches), and Level 3 (posterior interosseous nerve). Nerve injuries were categorized as axonal or demyelinating. Of the 57 patients (40 men, 17 women), 56 had confirmed radial nerve injury. Trauma was the leading cause, followed by surgical and compression-related injuries. Electrophysiologically, Level 2 was the most frequent site, typically corresponding to distal humeral injuries. Level 1 injuries were associated with proximal humeral lesions, while Level 3 was linked to radial shaft involvement. All patients showed axonal damage: 49% partial, 28% total, and 23% prominent partial. Our results show that trauma-related radial nerve injury is the predominant cause of isolated distal extensor weakness. Electrophysiological evaluation is essential for accurate localization, diagnosis, and management. KW - Wrist drop KW - finger drop KW - traumatic radial nerve injury KW - electromyography N2 - Bu çalışma, izole distal üst ekstremite ekstansör güçsüzlüğü bulunan hastaların klinik ve elektrofizyolojik özelliklerini inceleyerek etiyolojileri ve periferik sinir tutulumunun anatomik seviyelerini açıklamayı amaçlamaktadır. 2007–2025 yılları arasında el bileği veya parmak düşüklüğü ile başvuran 57 hasta retrospektif olarak değerlendirildi. Tüm hastalara median, ulnar ve radial sinirlerin motor ve duyu ileti çalışmaları ile birlikte radial sinir ve C7–C8 kökleri tarafından innerve edilen kasların iğne elektromiyografisi (EMG) uygulandı. Radial sinir lezyonları üç düzeyde sınıflandırıldı: Düzey 1 (triseps dalının proksimali), Düzey 2 (triseps sonrası ve supinator öncesi), Düzey 3 (posterior interosseöz sinir). Sinir hasarı aksonal veya demiyelinizan olarak kategorize edildi. 40’ı erkek, 17’si kadın olmak üzere toplam 57 hastanın 56’sında radial sinir hasarı saptandı. En sık neden travma olup, bunu cerrahi ve kompresyona bağlı yaralanmalar izledi. Elektrofizyolojik bulgular, en sık tutulumun distal humerus ile ilişkili olan Düzey 2’de görüldüğünü ortaya koydu. Düzey 1 yaralanmaları proksimal humeral lezyonlarla, Düzey 3 ise radius cismi ile ilişkili lezyonlarında sık izlendi. Tüm hastalarda aksonal hasar saptanmakla birlikte, olguların %49 unda kısmi, %28 inde total ve %23 belirgin kısmi aksonal hasar mevcuttu. Bulgularımız, travmaya bağlı radial sinir yaralanması izole distal ekstansör güçsüzlüğünün en önemli nedeni olduğunu göstermektedir. Lezyonların doğru lokalizasyonu, tanının kesinleştirilmesi ve uygun tedavi stratejilerinin belirlenmesi açısından elektrofizyolojik değerlendirme gereklidir CR - 1. Shields LB, Iyer VG, Zhang YP, Shields CB. Clinical, Electrodiagnostic, and Ultrasound Findings in 87 Patients With Finger Drop. Cureus. 2024;16(4):e57913. CR - 2. Gill ZA, Ayaz SB, Ahmad A, Matee S, Ahmad N. Electrophysiological and etiological evaluation of 119 cases of wrist drop: A single center study. J Pak Med Assoc. 2019;69(5):672-6. CR - 3. Choudhury C, Chaudhry N, Sengupta A, Gyanchandani K. Bilateral finger drop: a rare presentation of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Int J Sci Res. 2018;9:1279-81. CR - 4. Varatharaj A, Pinto A, Manning M. Differential diagnosis of finger drop. Neurologist. 2015;19(5):128-31. CR - 5. Cho TK, Bak KH. Posterior interosseous nerve (PIN) syndrome caused by anomalous vascular leash. J Korean Neurosurg Soc. 2005;37:293-5. CR - 6. Incecik F, Herguner OM, Besen S. Finger drop sign in a child with acute motor and sensory axonal neuropathy form of Guillain-Barré syndrome. Acta Neurol Belg. 2017;117(1):393-4. CR - 7. Kudlac M, Cummings R, Finocchiaro J. Finger drop: cervical radiculopathy, peripheral nerve lesion, or multifocal neuropathy? A case report. JOSPT Cases. 2022;2:112-6. CR - 8. Campbell WW, Buschbacher R, Pridgeon RM, Freeman A. Selective finger drop in cervical radiculopathy: the pseudopseudoulnar claw hand. Muscle Nerve. 1995;18(1):108-10. CR - 9. Furukawa M, Kamata M: Classification of finger posture in drop finger due to cervical foraminal stenosis: a mini-review. Int J Phys Med Rehabil. 2020;8:548. CR - 10. Athar I, Khattak NN, Rajput HM, Badshah M, Zayian Z. Finger drop sign in Guillain-Barre syndrome. Pak J Neurol Sci. 2021;16:1. CR - 11. Yoon BA, Ha DH, Park HT, Kusunoki S, Kuwahara M, Lee JH, et al. Finger drop sign as a new variant of acute motor axonal neuropathy. Muscle Nerve. 2021;63(3):336-43. CR - 12. Nicolle MW. Wrist and finger drop in myasthenia gravis. Clin Neuromusc Dis. 2006;8:65-9. CR - 13. Campbell WW, Buschbacher R, Pridgeon RM, Freeman A. Selective finger drop in cervical radiculopathy: the pseudopseudoulnar claw hand. Muscle Nerve. 1995;18(1):108-10. CR - 14. Fernandez E, Di Rienzo A, Marchese E, Massimi L, Lauretti L, Pallini R. Radial nerve palsy caused by spontaneously occurring nerve torsion. Case report. J Neurosurg. 2001;94(4):627-9. CR - 15. Robinson LR. Traumatic injury to peripheral nerves. Muscle Nerve. 2000;23(6):863-73. 4598(200006)23:6 <863::aid-mus4>3.0.co;2-0. CR - 16. Mondelli M, Morana P, Ballerini M, Rossi S, Giannini F. Mononeuropathies of the radial nerve: clinical and neurographic findings in 91 consecutive cases. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2005;15(4):377-83. CR - 17. Niver GE, Ilyas AM. Management of radial nerve palsy following fractures of the humerus. Orthop Clin North Am. 2013;44(3):419-x. CR - 18. Carlson N, Logigian EL. Radial neuropathy. Neurol Clin. 1999;17(3):499-vi. CR - 19. Wang LH, Weiss MD. Anatomical, clinical, and electrodiagnostic features of radial neuropathies. Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am. 2013;24(1):33-47. CR - 20. Markiewitz AD, Merryman J. Radial nerve compression in the upper extremity. J Hand Surg Am. 2005;5:87–99. CR - 21. Lowe JB 3rd, Sen SK, Mackinnon SE. Current approach to radial nerve paralysis. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2002;110(4):1099-113. CR - 22. DeFranco MJ, Lawton JN. Radial nerve injuries associated with humeral fractures. J Hand Surg Am. 2006;31(4):655-63. CR - 23. Samardzić M, Grujicić D, Milinković ZB. Radial nerve lesions associated with fractures of the humeral shaft. Injury. 1990;21(4):220-22. CR - 24. Żyluk A, Owczarska A. Outcomes of surgery for schwannomas of the upper extremity. Pol Przegl Chir. 2021;94(2):49-53. CR - 25. Laumonerie P, Dufournier B, Vari N, Manchec O, Tibbo ME, Cintas P, et al. Atraumatic proximal radial nerve entrapment. Illustrative cases and systematic review of literature. Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol. 2022;32(5):811-20. CR - 26. Guo Y, Chiou-Tan FY. Radial nerve injuries from gunshot wounds and other trauma: comparison of electrodiagnostic findings. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2002;81(3):207-11. UR - https://doi.org/10.20515/otd.1768712 L1 - https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/5170335 ER -