RADIAL TUNNEL-SYNDROME - LONG-TERM RESULTS OF SURGICAL DECOMPRESSION

Between 1980 and 1990, 31 patients (33 extremities) underwent decompre ssion of the radial tunnel. All procedures were performed at the same institution by the senior author using a brachioradialis muscle-splitt ing approach. Twenty-three patients (24 extremities) were available fo r follow-up evaluation at an average of 8 years after surgery. The out come was determined using the original criteria of Roles and Maudsley and Ritts et al. By the criteria of Roles and Maudsley, outcomes for 1 5 patients (16 extremities; 57%) were rated as excellent/good and for 8 patients (8 extremities; 33%), as fair/poor. By the criteria of Ritt s et al., 16 patients (17 extremities; 71%) had good results and 7 pat ients (7 extremities; 29%), a fair/poor result. Overall, the majority of patients were satisfied and felt helped by the surgery. Five patien ts changed their occupation because of continued discomfort. Significa nt differences in outcome were not found for workers' compensation pat ients. Similarly, no differences in outcome were found for site of com pression, patient sex, history of trauma, or associated neuropathies. The results of this study suggest that complete pain relief and return to activities following radial tunnel surgery is not as predictable a s previous studies have indicated. Nineteen patients (20 extremities), however, felt satisfied and helped and believed they gained improved function because of surgical decompression of the radial tunnel.