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Wu F, Ismaeel A, Siddiqi R. Anterior interosseous nerve palsy following the use of elbow crutches. N Am J Med Sci. 2011;3(6):296-8doi: 10.4297/najms.2011.3296.
Wu, F., Ismaeel, A., & Siddiqi, R. (2011). Anterior interosseous nerve palsy following the use of elbow crutches. North American journal of medical sciences, 3(6), 296-8. https://doi.org/10.4297/najms.2011.3296
Wu, Feiran, et al. "Anterior interosseous nerve palsy following the use of elbow crutches." North American journal of medical sciences vol. 3,6 (2011): 296-8. doi: https://doi.org/10.4297/najms.2011.3296
Wu F, Ismaeel A, Siddiqi R. Anterior interosseous nerve palsy following the use of elbow crutches. N Am J Med Sci. 2011 Jun;3(6):296-8. doi: 10.4297/najms.2011.3296. PMID: 22540102; PMCID: PMC3336923.
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N Am J Med Sci. 2011 Jun;3(6):296-8. doi: 10.4297/najms.2011.3296.

Anterior interosseous nerve palsy following the use of elbow crutches.

North American journal of medical sciences

Feiran Wu, Adil Ismaeel, Rehan Siddiqi

Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedics, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9WL, United Kingdom.

PMID: 22540102 PMCID: PMC3336923 DOI: 10.4297/najms.2011.3296

Abstract

CONTEXT: Lesions of the anterior interosseous nerve are rare and comprise less than 1% of all upper extremity nerve palsies. Traumatic causes include blunt trauma, forearm fractures, penetrating injury and local pressure from a plaster cast, but has never before been described in association with crutch use. This is the first reported case of the use of elbow crutches causing symptomatic anterior interosseous nerve compression.

CASE REPORT: This case describes a 30-year-old male who developed an inability to pinch with his left hand following the use of elbow crutches for a foot injury. On examination he was unable to flex the interphalangeal joint of his left thumb. A diagnosis of anterior interosseous palsy was made and the patient was treated conservatively and crutch use was ceased. At six weeks follow-up the patient made a complete recovery with full function of his left hand.

CONCLUSION: This report highlights the importance of adequate education in the safe use of elbow crutches for all patients. The side effects of inappropriate use should be carefully examined for during follow-up care.

Keywords: Anterior interosseous nerve palsy; compression neuropathy; crutch palsy; flexor digitorum profundus (FDP); flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS); flexor pollicis longus (FPL)

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