Rev Esp Anestesiol Reanim. 1992 Nov-Dec;39(6):371-3.

[Radial nerve injury caused by external compression during the dissection of the internal mammary artery in coronary surgery].

Revista espanola de anestesiologia y reanimacion

[Article in Spanish]
D Fernández de Caleya, J Duarte, A Lozano, N Torrente

PMID: 1293655

Abstract

Injury of the radial nerve produced by external compression during dissection of the internal mammary artery during surgery of ischemic heart disease, is an infrequent event. The use of sternal retractors with only one rod may be the cause of these lesions. We report two cases of radial nerve paralysis produced as a consequence of external compression induced by a sternal retractor during dissection of the internal mammary artery. In the first case the patient showed loss of power of the external muscles of the left forearm and a clear flexion of the left hand. The second patient presented loss of power of the left hand and impossibility to extend the carpus and fingers. In both cases the lesion was reversible.

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MeSH terms

• Equipment Design
• Humans
• Internal Mammary-Coronary Artery Anastomosis*
• Intraoperative Complications*
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Nerve Compression Syndromes / etiology
• Pressure / adverse effects
• Radial Nerve / injuries
• Surgical Instruments / adverse effects

Publication Types

• Case Reports
• English Abstract
• Journal Article