Radial nerve injury caused by external compression during the dissection of the internal mammary artery in coronary surgery
Fernández de Caleya, D.; Duarte, J.; Lozano, A.; Torrente, N.
Revista Espanola de Anestesiologia y Reanimacion 39(6): 371-373
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0034-9356 PMID: 1293655 Document Number: 397791
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.