Pronator teres syndrome
Median nerve displayed
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Pronator teres syndrome is a compression neuropathy of the median nerve at the elbow. It is rare compared to compression at the wrist (carpal tunnel syndrome) or isolated injury of the anterior interosseous branch of the median nerve (anterior interosseous syndrome).

Symptoms

Compression of the median nerve in the region of the elbow or proximal part of the forearm can cause pain and/or numbness in the distribution of the distal median nerve, and weakness of the muscles innervated by the anterior interosseous nerve: the flexor pollicis longus ("FPL"), the flexor digitorum profundus of the index finger ("FDP IF"), and the pronator quadratus ("PQ").[1][2][3] The pain tends to be at the wrist joint, in the distribution of the terminal branch of the anterior interosseous nerve, and is exacerbated by sustained pronation (i.e., wrist down).[4] The weakness of the FPL and FDP IF is painless, but causes people to "drop things" and have a sense of loss of dexterity. Pinching with the wrist flexed magnifies the expression of this weakness, by reducing resting tension on the muscles of pinch. For instance, "child-proof" prescription pill bottles may be difficult to open. People easily adapt to this weakness without conscious effort or self-awareness, by using 1) the next muscles down, which are innervated by a different nerve, or 2) using ligaments to give resistance, pinching laterally against the index finger or against the side of the end of the thumb, or 3) by what is called "tenodesis," which in this case is extension of the wrist joint, which tightens the muscles on the palm side of the hand. These adaptations on a moment-to-moment basis do not cause problems, but over time in loose-jointed patients, such as many women and people with collagen disorders such as Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, the adaptations can cause soft tissue failures that can become painful, particularly at the base of the thumb and in the proximal forearm (i.e., "Tennis Elbow" in a non-tennis player).[5]

Causes

The most common cause is entrapment of the median nerve between the two heads of the pronator teres muscle. Other causes are compression of the nerve from the fibrous arch of the flexor superficialis, or the thickening of the bicipital aponeurosis.[6]⁠[7][8][9]

Anatomy

The median nerve passes through the cubital fossa and passes between the two heads of pronator teres muscle into the forearm. It then runs between flexor digitorum superficialis and flexor digitorum profundus muscles and enters the hand through the carpal tunnel.[10]

It innervates most of the flexor muscles in the forearm and hand. Its sensory component supplies the skin of the palm, thumb, index and middle finger as well as half the ring finger, and, importantly and often forgotten, the bones of the wrist.

In the proximal forearm it gives rise to the anterior interosseous nerve which innervates the flexor of the thumb (FPL), the flexor digitorum profundus of the index finger (FDP IF), and the pronator quadratus, and terminates in a sensory branch to the bones of the wrist, i.e., the carpal tunnel. Compression of the proximal median nerve results in weakness of these three muscles, and can cause aching pain in the wrist on the basis of the sensory nerve to the carpal bones.

Diagnosis

The most common chief complaint is intermittent pain in the wrist, associated with sustained pronation, frequently misinterpreted by patients and providers as "tendonitis." This is usually accompanied by the perception of "hand weakness," and "dropping things." The characteristic physical finding is tenderness over the proximal median nerve, with ensuing numbness in the hand in less than a minute, and/or numbness in the hand with resisted pronation of the forearm in less than a minute.[11][12]

The flexor pollicis longus and FDP of the index finger are weak, leading to impairment of pinching firmly. This reflects involvement of the anterior interosseous nerve.[13]

Sensory changes may be found in the first three fingers as well as in the palm, indicating impairment of the median nerve proximal to the flexor retinaculum, but tend to involve the sensation of the entire hand going numb at night, with any pressure on the median nerve on the areas at the inside of the elbow.[14][15]

The clinical and electrophysiological features of pronator teres syndrome are quite different from patients with carpal tunnel syndrome or pure anterior interosseous syndrome, and are typically normal.[16][17] Proper localisation is crucial to treatment options.[18][19]

Conduction velocity of the median nerve in the proximal forearm may be slow but the distal latency and sensory nerve action potential at the wrist are normal.[20]

Although MRI may show denervation atrophy of the affected muscles, its role in the evaluation of pronator teres syndrome is unclear.[21]⁠

If the EMG or the MRI are abnormal for the pronator teres muscle and the flexor carpi radialis, this implies that the problem is at or proximal to the elbow, as the takeoff of the nerves to these muscles occurs proximal to the elbow.

Treatment

Injection of corticosteroids into the pronator teres muscle may produce relief of symptoms.[22]

Massage therapy can also provide relief for individuals experiencing this condition.[23]

Surgical decompression can provide benefit in selected cases.[24][25][26][27]

References

  1. ↑ Kalliainen LK, Ericson WB. "Management of Compressive Neuropathies of the Upper Extremity," Chapter 70, Grabb and Smith's Plastic Surgery, 8th Edition, Chung K et al, Editors. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2018
  2. ↑ Hartz, C R, R L Linscheid, R R Gramse, and J R Daube. "The pronator teres syndrome: compressive neuropathy of the median nerve." The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. American Volume 63, no. 6 (July 1981): 885-90. PMID 7240329.
  3. ↑ Wertsch, J J, and J Melvin. "Median nerve anatomy and entrapment syndromes: a review." Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 63, no. 12 (December 1982): 623-7. PMID 6756339.
  4. ↑ Ericson WB, Singh V. "Median Nerve Entrapments," in "Peripheral Nerve Entrapments: Clinical Diagnosis and Management, " Trescot AM, Editor. Springer, April, 2016. p369-382.
  5. ↑ Ericson WB, Wolman R. "Orthopedic Management of the Ehlers Danlos Syndromes," American Journal of Medical Genetics, Part C, Seminars in Medical Genetics, Volume 175C, Number 1, March, 2017. p188-194.
  6. ↑ Johnson, R K, M Spinner, and M M Shrewsbury. "Median nerve entrapment syndrome in the proximal forearm." The Journal of Hand Surgery 4, no. 1 (January 1979): 48-51. PMID 759503.
  7. ↑ Farrell, H F. "Pain and the pronator teres syndrome." Bulletin of the Hospital for Joint Diseases 37, no. 1 (April 1976): 59-62. PMID 974290.
  8. ↑ Martinelli, P, A S Gabellini, M Poppi, R Gallassi, and E Pozzati. "Pronator syndrome due to thickened bicipital aponeurosis." Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry 45, no. 2 (February 1982): 181-2. PMC 1083053.
  9. ↑ Fuss, FK, and GH Wurzl. "Median nerve entrapment. pronator teres syndrome." Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy 12, no. 4 (December 1, 1990): 267-271. doi:10.1007/BF01623702.
  10. ↑ Fuss, FK, and GH Wurzl. "Median nerve entrapment. pronator teres syndrome." Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy 12, no. 4 (December 1, 1990): 267-271. doi:10.1007/BF01623702.
  11. ↑ Hartz, C R, R L Linscheid, R R Gramse, and J R Daube. "The pronator teres syndrome: compressive neuropathy of the median nerve." The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. American Volume 63, no. 6 (July 1981): 885-90. PMID 7240329.
  12. ↑ Morris, H H, and B H Peters. "Pronator syndrome: clinical and electrophysiological features in seven cases." Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry 39, no. 5 (May 1976): 461-4. PMC 492308.
  13. ↑ Wertsch, J J, and J Melvin. "Median nerve anatomy and entrapment syndromes: a review." Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 63, no. 12 (December 1982): 623-7. PMID 6756339.
  14. ↑ Ericson WB, Singh V. "Median Nerve Entrapments," in "Peripheral Nerve Entrapments: Clinical Diagnosis and Management, " Trescot AM, Editor. Springer, April, 2016. p369-382.
  15. ↑ Bridgeman, C, S Naidu, and M J Kothari. "Clinical and electrophysiological presentation of pronator syndrome." Electromyography and Clinical Neurophysiology 47, no. 2: 89-92. PMID 17479724.
  16. ↑ Ericson WB, Singh V. "Median Nerve Entrapments," in "Peripheral Nerve Entrapments: Clinical Diagnosis and Management, " Trescot AM, Editor. Springer, April, 2016. p369-382.
  17. ↑ Johnson, R K, M Spinner, and M M Shrewsbury. "Median nerve entrapment syndrome in the proximal forearm." The Journal of Hand Surgery 4, no. 1 (January 1979): 48-51. PMID 759503.
  18. ↑ Wertsch, J J, and J Melvin. "Median nerve anatomy and entrapment syndromes: a review." Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 63, no. 12 (December 1982): 623-7. PMID 6756339.
  19. ↑ Bridgeman, C, S Naidu, and M J Kothari. "Clinical and electrophysiological presentation of pronator syndrome." Electromyography and Clinical Neurophysiology 47, no. 2: 89-92. PMID 17479724.
  20. ↑ Morris, H H, and B H Peters. "Pronator syndrome: clinical and electrophysiological features in seven cases." Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry 39, no. 5 (May 1976): 461-4. PMC 492308.
  21. ↑ Ferdinand, Brett D, Zehava Sadka Rosenberg, Mark E Schweitzer, Steven A Stuchin, Laith M Jazrawi, Salvatore R Lenzo, et al. "MR imaging features of radial tunnel syndrome: initial experience." Radiology 240, no. 1 (July 2006): 161-8. PMID 16793976.
  22. ↑ Morris, H H, and B H Peters. "Pronator syndrome: clinical and electrophysiological features in seven cases." Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry 39, no. 5 (May 1976): 461-4. PMC 492308.
  23. ↑ Lowe, W. "Pronator Teres Syndrome." Massage Today, no. 5 (May, 2007).
  24. ↑ Johnson, R K, M Spinner, and M M Shrewsbury. "Median nerve entrapment syndrome in the proximal forearm." The Journal of Hand Surgery 4, no. 1 (January 1979): 48-51. PMID 759503.
  25. ↑ Hartz, C R, R L Linscheid, R R Gramse, and J R Daube. "The pronator teres syndrome: compressive neuropathy of the median nerve." The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. American Volume 63, no. 6 (July 1981): 885-90. PMID 7240329.
  26. ↑ Farrell, H F. "Pain and the pronator teres syndrome." Bulletin of the Hospital for Joint Diseases 37, no. 1 (April 1976): 59-62. PMID 974290.
  27. ↑ Kalliainen LK, Ericson WB. "Management of Compressive Neuropathies of the Upper Extremity," Chapter 70, Grabb and Smith's Plastic Surgery, 8th Edition, Chung K et al, Editors. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2018
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