A 20-year-old woman fractured her left foot after she fell from the stairs. Her left foot is stabilized with a cast and uses underarm crutches for moving around. One week later, she presented to the office complaining of left upper extremity numbness. She does not complain of pain. Physical examination shows a decreased extension of the left wrist, with loss of the triceps reflex. Which of the following nerves is injured in this patient?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: Continuous pressure over the axilla could lead to radial nerve injury. Radial nerve injury leads to a decreased extension of the forearm, hand, and fingers. Additionally, there is a loss of sensation over the posterior arm, forearm, dorsolateral hand, and dorsal thumb. Distal lesions usually do not affect triceps brachii.

A 20-Year-Old Woman Fractured Her Left Foot After She Fell