Median nerve entrapment in a callus fracture following a pediatric both-bone forearm fracture: A case report and literature review

Forearm fractures are common injuries in childhood. Median nerve entrapment is a rare complication of forearm fractures, but several cases have been reported in the literature. This case report discusses the diagnosis and management of median nerve entrapment in a 13-year-old male who presented acutely with a both-bone forearm fracture and numbness in the median nerve distribution. Following the delayed diagnosis, surgical exploration revealed complete nerve entrapment and a nerve graft was performed.

Keywords

Humans - Forearm injuries - Fractures, bone - Median nerve - Transplants

INTRODUCTION

Forearm fractures are common injuries in childhood. Fractures of the distal third of the radius and ulna account for 75% of all pediatric both-bone forearm fractures [1] [2]. Median nerve entrapment is a rare complication of forearm fractures, but several cases have been reported in the literature [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11].

CASE

A 13-year-old right-hand-dominant boy fell off a bicycle. He was seen at a local emergency room in December 2013. A physical examination revealed a deformed and painful left forearm without neurological or circulatory impairment. Radiographs showed a greenstick both-bone distal fracture ([Fig. 1]). The patient underwent a closed reduction with satisfactory post-manipulation radiographs.

Fig. 1. The radiographs of the both-bone forearm fracture The radiographs were obtained in the emergency room, with an anteroposterior view (A) and lateral view of the radial and ulnar fracture with dorsal angulation (B).

Weekly examinations showed no fracture displacement and normal bone healing, but the patient complained of numbness in his thumb, index finger, and middle finger. The sensory loss was thought to be caused by neurapraxia, and the patient was advised that the numbness would resolve spontaneously.

Two months later, the plaster was removed, radiographs showed union of both fractured bones with callus bridging ([Fig. 2]), and the patient noted improved sensibility in the thumb.

Fig. 2. The radiographic follow-up after 2 months Radiographs showed the union of the fracture without angulation in the coronal plane (A) and 15° of tolerated angulation in the sagittal plane (B).

Six months after the initial injury, the patient presented to the emergency room after burning his middle finger pulp. On examination, there was no 2-point discrimination in the median nerve distribution of the left hand.

Finally, the patient was referred to us for evaluation. Examination revealed a thenar eminence atrophy, decreased power of the abductor pollicis brevis, and the Tinel sign was positive over the fracture site and the wrist. The flexor digitorum profundus extending into the index finger and the flexor pollicis longus muscles were normal in muscle testing. A neurophysiological study revealed abnormal median nerve conduction distally, and needle electromyography detected denervation of the abductor pollicis brevis. Radiographs showed that the fracture had healed with only a slight irregularity.

Eight months after the injury, surgical exploration of the median nerve was carried out. An anterior incision was performed on the left forearm, centered on the area of the positive Tinel sign. The flexor muscles were split and the median nerve was identified. The nerve was trapped in the radius callus fracture ([Fig. 3]). Neurolysis was attempted, but was impossible ([Fig. 4]). After resection of the injured nerve and the neuroma, we found a loss of substance ([Fig. 5]). The possibility of a nerve suture without tension was tested with a nylon 9/0 suture, but it was not possible, even with flexion of the wrist. A nerve graft was performed using the left sural nerve ([Fig. 6]).

Fig. 3. Intraoperative view of the surgical exploration The surgical exploration revealed entrapment of the median nerve at the radial fracture site.

Fig. 4. Intraoperative view after a neurolysis attempt Neurolysis failed because the nerve was caught in the bony callus. Dissection was impossible. The picture shows a nerve discontinuity caused by attempting release, and a flattening in the distal part.

Fig. 5. Intraoperative view of nerve loss of substance The dissected part, the neuroma, and the glioma were resected, resulting into a loss of substance measuring 20 mm.

Fig. 6. Intraoperative view of the median nerve graft After excision of the entrapped part, the median nerve defect was grafted using the sural nerve.

Two years after surgery, follow-up revealed recovery of the abductor pollicis brevis, and 2-point discrimination was 6 mm on the thumbs and 10 mm on the index and the middle finger.

DISCUSSION

Median nerve entrapment in forearm fractures in children is uncommon. Eleven cases have reported in the literature from 1974 to 2016 ([Table 1]). The mean age of the affected patients was 11 years (range, 6–13 years). Except for the cases described by Nunley and Urbaniak [10] and Yeo et al. [3], in which the nerve entrapment was at an ulnar fracture site, the nine other cases were due to a radial fracture. The radial fractures were proximal in one case [7], at the mid-shaft in eight cases, and in the distal third in the two remaining cases and our case. Closed reduction was performed in eight cases [1] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [11], an open reduction in one case [2], and no reduction was needed in two cases [9] [10]. In addition to the median nerve, the interosseous nerve was involved in one case [8]. Except for the case described by Hurst and Aldridge [2], in which surgical exploration was immediately indicated, both the diagnosis and the surgical exploration were delayed. In the reported cases, the median nerve entrapment was released after 39 days to 24 months [7] [11]. The reasons for the delayed diagnosis include the absence of clinician continuity in serial follow-up examinations, the unclear nature of complaints from affected children, and the assumption that such numbness will prove to be temporary.

Table 1.

Literature review of nerve entrapment in the osseous callus in pediatric forearm fractures

Author	Year	Age (yr)	Fracture	Nerve	Entrapment location	Fracture treatment	Surgical exploration delay	Surgical­management	Follow­up	Outcome
Wolfe et al. [[11]]	1974	7	Radius and ulna, middle and distal third junction	Median nerve	Radius	Closed reduction	39 day	Neurorrhaphy	2 yr	Complete recovery
Nunley and Urbaniak [[10]]	1980	6	Proximal third of the ulna	Median nerve	Ulna	Long-arm cast (no reduction needed)	9 mon	Neurorrhaphy	7 mon	Nearly complete recovery
Genelin et al. [[9]]	1988	13	Radius and ulna, middle third	Madian nerve	Radius	No reduction needed	3 mon	Nerve graft	8 mon	Nearly complete recovery, with persistent dernervation signs in electromyography
Gainor et al. [[8]]	1990	12	Radius and ulna, mid-shaft	Median and anterior interosseous nerves	Radius	Closed reduction and casting	5 mon and 15 day	Neurolysis for both and median nerve neurorrhaphy	6 mon	Complete sensory recovery, incomplete muscle strength recovery
al-Qattan et al. [[7]]	1994	10	Radius and ulna, middle third	Median nerve	Radius	Closed reduction	24 mon	Neurolysis	9 mon	Complete recovery
Huang et al. [[6]]	1998	13	Junction of the proximal and middle thirds of the radius and ulna	Median nerve	Radius	Closed reduction and long-arm cast	4 mon and 14 day	Neurorrhaphy	11 mon	Good sensory recovery, no motion regained
Proubasta et al. [[5]]	1999	12	Closed both-bone forearm fracture, distal third	Median nerve	Radius	Closed reduction and long-arm cast	6 wk	Neurolysis	6 mon	Full sensory and motion recovery
Bendre et al. [[4]]	2005	12	Closed middle-third both-bone forearm fracture	Median nerve	Radius	Closed reduction and long-arm cast	15 mon	Neurolysis	1 yr	Full sensory and motion recovery
Hurst and Aldridge [[2]]	2006	13	Closed midshaft both-bone forearm fracture	Median nerve	Radius	Open reduction and internal plate fixation	0 day	Neurolysis	14 wk	Complete recovery
Ardolino et al. [1]	2009	12	Closed both-bone distal-third fracture	Median nerver	Fracture site	Closed reduction then discharge	4 mon and 7 day	Neurorrhaphy	1 yr	Complete motion recovery, with persistent paresthesia
Yeo et al. [3]	2011	11	Radius and ulna, middle third	Median nerve	Ulna	Closed reduction and immobilization	6 mon	Neurolysis, then neurorrhaphy	1 yr	Complete recovery
Current study	2016	13	Closed both-bone distal-third fracture	Median nerve	Radius	Closed reduction and long-arm cast	8 mon	Nerve graft	2 yr	Complete motion recovery, good sensory recovery

The presence of a slight bony irregularity, a bony canal [10], or a bony spike at the site of the fracture may suggest median nerve entrapment [7]. However, those radiological irregularities are usually only appreciated postoperatively [7]. In our case, a bony canal was present on the anteroposterior view of the healed radial fracture ([Fig. 7]). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was only performed in one case [3], although it is useful for tracing the median nerve course in the forearm. Yanagibayashi et al. [12] advocate the use of MRI earlier if entrapment is suspected. It enables immediate visualization of the entrapment, and surgical exploration can be promptly performed to release the entrapment.

Fig. 7. The radiographic follow-up after 8 months (A, B) The radiograph shows complete bone healing and bone remodeling. Note the bony canal (yellow arrow) at the healed radius fracture site.

Neurolysis and neurorrhaphy were the most common management procedures, and a median nerve graft was performed in one other case [9], as well as in our case. Fortunately, the literature has demonstrated that median nerve function shows excellent recovery in childhood, even with delayed surgery.

This case emphasizes the importance of a meticulous clinical examination before and after closed reduction to detect a nerve injury. We highlight the value of clinician continuity in serial follow-up examinations. Early exploration of persistent neurological deficits is advocated, and MRI may be useful.

NOTES

Ethical approval

The study was approved by the Habib Bourguiba University Hospital Ethics Committee (IRB No. 7-17) and performed in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Written informed consents were obtained.

Patient consent

The patient provided written informed consent for the publication and the use of his images.

Author contribution

Clinical study, drafting, and approval of the manuscript: Fourati A. Literature review: Karra A. Critical revision: Ghorbel I. Electromyography study: Elleuch MH. Study supervision: Ennouri K.

Conflict of interest

No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

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Publication History

Received: 04 November 2017

Accepted: 14 April 2018

Article published online:
03 April 2022