nervetrauma

Here’s an interesting study which looked at the feasibility of using ultrasonography (US) to evaluate nerve injuries. The study focuses on radial nerve injuries, but I imagine that the results are equally relevant to other types of nerves. It’s a small study, but the consistency between the US findings and the specifics of each patient’s case is reassuring.

“In five patients, US findings of a severely damaged radial nerve were confirmed at surgical nerve inspection. In one patient, the nerve was entrapped between fragments. One patient had a complete nerve dissection, one had a lacerated nerve from a loose compression plate, and one had a nerve riding on the edge of a bone fragment. In the fifth patient who underwent surgical inspection, the nerve was buried in the callus. In the six patients treated conservatively, US showed continuity of the nerve.”

The study concludes that US “may be useful for accurate evaluation of the radial nerve in patients with nerve palsy associated with humeral shaft fracture.”

And here’s the link:

http://radiology.rsnajnls.org/cgi/content/full/219/3/811

If your doctor doesn’t suggest an ultrasound, it’s worth asking for one. My ultrasound didn’t show that the nerve WASN’T torn–but it didn’t show that it WAS, either! I have a hunch that if the nerve is really badly damaged, it will show up on the ultrasound, and that could save you months of agonizing and waiting before making the decision to have surgery.

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