Surgical treatment of common entrapment neuropathies in the upper limbs

Entrapment neuropathies of the upper extremity are common, debilitating con ditions. Most patients with these neuropathies are readily diagnosed on pur ely clinical grounds and may be effectively managed with nonoperative measu res. However, the broad differential diagnosis often necessitates electrodi agnostic testing and radiographic imaging to clarify the situation. This re view focuses on three of the most common entrapment neuropathies in the upp er limbs: carpal tunnel syndrome (median nerve entrapment at the wrist), cu bital tunnel syndrome (ulnar nerve entrapment at the elbow), and radial tun nel syndrome (posterior interosseous nerve entrapment). Anatomical consider ations, patient evaluation, indications for surgical intervention, options for surgical approaches, outcomes, and complications are discussed. (C) 200 0 John Wiley & Sons. Inc.