Nerve conduction studies in the superficial radial nerve entrapment syndrome

This report reviews the syndrome of entrapment of the superficial branch of the radial nerve (SBRN) in the forearm, and electrodiagnostic techniques to aid in diagnosis are presented. Normal mean radial sensory conduction in the forearm was found to be 61.4 +/- 3.1 m/sec. Three patients are presented. In two of these comparison of conduction in the SBRN to the lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve (LACN) and contralateral SBRN was abnormal, whereas the absolute SBRN conduction appeared normal. Normal LACN-SBRN difference in the same arm was 1.9 +/- 1.6 m/sec, with a range of 0-7.0 m/sec; mean SBRN difference in opposite arms of the same subject was 1.8 +/- 1.6 m/sec.