Complications and emergencies: radial nerve palsy from arm positioning: practice question

A Anaesthesia question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Anaesthesia · Complications and emergencies: radial nerve palsy from arm positioning

Sample item

After surgery during which his right arm hung over the edge of the table, pressed against a metal bar, a man cannot extend the wrist or fingers and has sensory loss over the dorsum of the hand. Which nerve is injured?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. Radial nerve in the spiral groove

The radial nerve runs in the spiral groove of the humerus and is compressed when the arm is pressed against a hard edge. The result is wrist drop, weak finger extension and sensory loss over the dorsum of the hand. Padding and keeping the arm on a supported board prevent it.

Option by option

  • A. Median nerve at the carpal tunnel

    Median nerve compression causes weak thumb opposition and numbness of the lateral three and a half digits on the palm side.

  • B. Radial nerve in the spiral groove (correct)

    Correct. Wrist drop with dorsal hand sensory loss after pressure on the upper arm indicates radial nerve compression.

  • C. Axillary nerve at the surgical neck

    Axillary nerve injury causes deltoid weakness and loss of sensation over the lateral shoulder.

  • D. Ulnar nerve at the medial epicondyle

    Ulnar nerve injury gives a claw hand and numbness of the ring and little fingers, not wrist drop.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More Anaesthesia questions

Questions about this Anaesthesia question

What is the answer to this Anaesthesia question?

The best answer is B, Radial nerve in the spiral groove. The radial nerve runs in the spiral groove of the humerus and is compressed when the arm is pressed against a hard edge.

Why is "Median nerve at the carpal tunnel" not the answer?

Median nerve compression causes weak thumb opposition and numbness of the lateral three and a half digits on the palm side.

Why is "Axillary nerve at the surgical neck" not the answer?

Axillary nerve injury causes deltoid weakness and loss of sensation over the lateral shoulder.

Why is "Ulnar nerve at the medial epicondyle" not the answer?

Ulnar nerve injury gives a claw hand and numbness of the ring and little fingers, not wrist drop.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Complications and emergencies: radial nerve palsy from arm positioning in Anaesthesia. The result is wrist drop, weak finger extension and sensory loss over the dorsum of the hand. Padding and keeping the arm on a supported board prevent it.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Complications and emergencies: radial nerve palsy from arm positioning?

Make a table of each agent, its key advantage and its main side effect. Then use the flashcards and the other Anaesthesia questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.