ANTERIOR INTEROSSEOUS NERVE SYNDROME - LITERATURE-REVIEW AND REPORT OF 11 CASES

The anterior interosseous nerve syndrome (AINS) is characterized by we akness of the flexor pollicis longus and the flexor digitorum profundu s of the index finger. The orthopedic literature suggests that this sy ndrome is caused by mechanical compression of the nerve (an entrapment neuropathy) and that decompression should take place after an observa tional period of 6 to 12 weeks. The neurological literature suggests t hat AINS is a form of neuralgic amyotrophy and that it is safe to trea t patients with AINS nonoperatively to obtain good results. With this controversy in mind, a retrospective follow-up study of 11 patients wi th this syndrome was conducted. Eight patients were operated on and th ree patients were treated conservatively. The question whether a patie nt should be operated on or not, cannot easily be answered. It is reco mmended that spontaneous recovery should be awaited in patients having other neurological symptoms in combination with AINS. In patients wit h symptoms caused by AINS only, the observation period should be 8 to 12 months.