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<bold>Aim of the study:</bold> High-resolution ultrasound is less often used to evaluate the radial nerves. The radial nerve is often involved in entrapment syndromes. The aim of the study is to establish the reference values for the cross-sectional area of the normal radial nerve on high-resolution ultrasonography, and to identify relationships between the cross-sectional area and the subject’s age, gender, height, weight, body mass index, and hand dominance. <bold>Material and methods:</bold> The study was conducted on 200 subjects of both sexes, between 18 and 75 years of age, who did not have history of peripheral neuropathy or trauma to the upper limb. High-resolution real-time sonographic examination of the radial nerves was performed in both arms at two different levels. Level 1 was taken just proximal to the nerve bifurcation, and level 2 just after the nerve exits the spiral grove. <bold>Results:</bold> The mean cross-sectional area measured at level 2 (4.3 ± 0.4 mm2) was greater than that measured at level 1 (2.3 ± 0.3 mm2). No significant relationship was seen with age and hand dominance (<italic>p</italic> >0.05), but the cross-sectional area values at above mentioned levels were larger in males than in females (<italic>p</italic> &lt;0.05). In addition, the cross-sectional areas of the radial nerves showed a positive correlation with height, weight, and body mass index (<italic>p</italic> &lt;0.05). <bold>Conclusion:</bold> The established ultrasonographic reference values along with basic clinical data will aid in the diagnosis, response to treatment, and prognostic evaluation of peripheral neuropathies.
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Aim of the study: High-resolution ultrasound is less often used to evaluate the radial nerves. The radial nerve is often involved in entrapment syndromes. The aim of the study is to establish the reference values for the cross-sectional area of the normal radial nerve on high-resolution ultrasonography, and to identify relationships between the cross-sectional area and the subject’s age, gender, height, weight, body mass index, and hand dominance. Material and methods: The study was conducted on 200 subjects of both sexes, between 18 and 75 years of age, who did not have history of peripheral neuropathy or trauma to the upper limb. High-resolution real-time sonographic examination of the radial nerves was performed in both arms at two different levels. Level 1 was taken just proximal to the nerve bifurcation, and level 2 just after the nerve exits the spiral grove. Results: The mean cross-sectional area measured at level 2 (4.3 ± 0.4 mm2) was greater than that measured at level 1 (2.3 ± 0.3 mm2). No significant relationship was seen with age and hand dominance (p >0.05), but the cross-sectional area values at above mentioned levels were larger in males than in females (p <0.05). In addition, the cross-sectional areas of the radial nerves showed a positive correlation with height, weight, and body mass index (p <0.05). Conclusion: The established ultrasonographic reference values along with basic clinical data will aid in the diagnosis, response to treatment, and prognostic evaluation of peripheral neuropathies.

Reference values for the cross-sectional area of normal radial nerve at two levels using high-resolution ultrasonography

Journal of Ultrasonography

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Aim of the study: High-resolution ultrasound is less often used to evaluate the radial nerves. The radial nerve is often involved in entrapment syndromes. The...

Reference values for the cross-sectional area of normal radial nerve at two levels using high-resolution ultrasonography

Article Category: research-paper

Published Online: Jun 18, 2021

Page range: 112 - 126

Received: Feb 02, 2021

Accepted: Apr 20, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15557/jou.2021.0020

Keywords
radial nerve, high resolution ultrasonography, ultrasound, cross-sectional area, peripheral nerves

© 2021 Polish Ultrasound Society. Published by Medical Communications Sp. z o.o.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Reference values for the cross-sectional area of normal radial nerve at two levels using high-resolution ultrasonography

Article Category: research-paper

Published Online: Jun 18, 2021

Page range: 112 - 126

Received: Feb 02, 2021

Accepted: Apr 20, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15557/jou.2021.0020

Keywordsradial nerve, high resolution ultrasonography, ultrasound, cross-sectional area, peripheral nerves

© 2021 Polish Ultrasound Society. Published by Medical Communications Sp. z o.o.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
radial nerve, high resolution ultrasonography, ultrasound, cross-sectional area, peripheral nerves