Radial Tunnel Syndrome is a condition proposed to explain lateral elbow pain more distal than typical for enthesopathy

Enthesopathy

In medicine, an enthesopathy refers to a disorder of entheses .If the condition is known to be inflammatory, it can more precisely be called a enthesitis.Enthesopathies are disorders of peripheral ligamentous or muscular attachments,...

 of the extensor carpi radialis brevis (tennis elbow

Tennis elbow

Lateral epicondylitis or lateral epicondylalgia, also known as tennis elbow, shooter's elbow and archer's elbow, is a condition where the outer part of the elbow becomes sore and tender...

).

Etiology

The theory is that the radial nerve

Radial nerve

The radial nerve is a nerve in the human body that supplies the upper limb. It supplies the medial and lateral heads of the triceps brachii muscle of the arm, as well as all 12 muscles in the posterior osteofascial compartment of the forearm and the associated joints and overlying skin.It...

 becomes irritated and/or inflamed from friction caused by compression by muscles in the forearm

Forearm

-See also:*Forearm flexors*Forearm muscles...

. There are no objective tests that can verify or falsify the presence of disease (pathophysiology) and the diagnosis is highly debated. In fact, surgeons use the words of faith rather than science when discussing this entity as in "I believe (or I don't believe) in radial tunnel syndrome."

Some speculate that Radial Tunnel Syndrome is a type of repetitive strain injury

Repetitive strain injury

Repetitive strain injury is an injury of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems that may be caused by...

 (RSI), but there is no detectable pathophysiology and even the existence of this disorder is questioned.

The term "radial tunnel syndrome" is used for compression of the posterior interosseous nerve

Posterior interosseous nerve

The posterior interosseous nerve is a nerve in the forearm. It is the continuation of the deep branch of the radial nerve, after this has crossed the supinator muscle. It is considerably diminished in size compared to the deep branch of the radial nerve...

 at the lateral intermuscular septum of arm, while "supinator syndrome" is used for compression at the arcade of Frohse

Arcade of Frohse

Arcade of Frohse, sometimes called the supinator arch, is the most superior part of the superficial layer of the supinator muscle, and is a fibrous arch over the posterior interosseous nerve....

.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis is based on symptoms and signs alone and objective testing is expected to be normal. This syndrome may be clinically tested by flexing the patients long finger while the patient extends the wrist and fingers. Pain is a positive finding.

Treatment

There is no evidence that any specific treatment is better than the no treatment (natural history). Specifically, the role of surgery is debatable.