Radial Nerve paralysis

Re: Radial Nerve paralysis

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 14:35:12 GMT

[quote user="Mark Holmes"]Probably the best way to encourge the thing to heal completely would be to advise them it is futile and recommend immediate amputation. I would then expect them to leave in disgust and it be recovered in a fortnight.[/quote]

Does anybody do the skin sling these days? I forget the proper name for the technique but it was an alternative to amputation - you incise down the cranial aspect from shoulder to carpus then suture the forearm to the arm. Arguably handicapping the cat more than amputation would.

Re: Radial Nerve paralysis

Mark Holmes — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 10:30:22 GMT

Loss of sensation follows that for the rn exactly. Pain sensation present medially and over the lateral digit 5. Loss if function limited to extensor muscle groups. Clients are horrified that I can only suggest wait and see and feel I should be doing something to try and fix it. Its actually a situation where I could see homeopathy being useful if just to give them something to do. I have advised that amputuataion almost inevitable. Probably the best way to encourge the thing to heal completely would be to advise them it is futile and recommend immediate amputation. I would then expect them to leave in disgust and it be recovered in a fortnight.

Re: Radial Nerve paralysis

Judith Joyce — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 21:05:10 GMT

Most (in fact, almost all) SA cases given a diagnosis of radial nerve paralysis have suffered a brachial plexus injury. BP injuries involve more than just the radial nerve and this can be established by a careful neuro exam. The injury occurs by excessive abduction of the thoracic limb - typically in RTA or getting hung up in a fence.

If the injury is an avulsion of the nerves then the cat will not improve. If the injury is a neuropraxia - ie stretching of the nerves which remain otherwise intact, the prognosis is better though a lengthy (weeks to months) convalescence is inevitable. If deep pain perception is absent (test an inner and an outer toe using artery forceps or similar) then the prognosis is extremely poor to the extent that the next deep pain negative BP injury that I see recover will be the first. The only proviso is that I look for two deep pain negative exams - one at the time of injury and another approx 72hrs later - if the patient remains deep pain negative then the prognosis is bad.

To quote a good friend of mine, "Dogs have got three legs and a spare". Cats cope even better than dogs as tripods.

Malcolm N

Re: Radial Nerve paralysis

mariette asselbergs — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 19:23:47 GMT

I had a ram with the same after becoming trapped with one leg in the door for hours (found in the morning). Hanging down elbow and not able to keep the leg stretched and support himself, I put it in a splint and luckily the farmer's daughter is a vet nurse and kept controlling and replacing the splint as necessary. After 2 months he only needed a supportive bandage and after another month he was fine. Time is a great healer for nerves....

Good luck!

Mariette