Wrist drop

From WikiMD's Wellnesspedia

Wrist drop, as the name suggests, is a medical condition in which the wrist and the fingers cannot extend at the metacarpophalangeal joints.

How does it work?[edit | edit source]

The wrist remains partially flexed due to an opposing action of flexor muscles of the forearm. As a result, the extensor muscles in the posterior compartment remain paralyzed.

Causes[edit | edit source]

  • An illness in the whole body that damages a single nerve
  • Direct injury to the nerve
  • Long-term pressure on the nerve
  • Pressure on the nerve caused by swelling or injury of nearby body structures
  • Radial neuropathy occurs when there is damage to the radial nerve, which travels down the arm and controls:
  • Movement of the triceps muscle at the back of the upper arm
  • Ability to bend the wrist and fingers backward
  • Movement and sensation of the wrist and hand
  • When damage destroys the nerve covering (myelin sheath) or part of the nerve itself, nerve signaling is slowed or prevented.
  • Damage to the radial nerve can be caused by:
  • Broken arm bone and other injury
  • Diabetes
  • Improper use of crutches
  • Lead poisoning
  • Long-term pressure on the nerve, usually caused by swelling or injury of nearby body structures
  • Pressure to the upper arm from arm positions during sleep or coma
  • In some cases, no cause can be found.
Wrist drop Resources

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