Unusual delayed radial nerve palsy caused by a traumatic aneurysm of a collateral radial artery: report of two cases.

Two patients with delayed radial nerve palsy occurring a month after penetrating missile wounds are presented. The history and presence of a pulsatile mass over the posterolateral aspect of the arm were highly suggestive of a traumatic aneurysm of a collateral radial artery, confirmed by angiography in one patient and at surgery in the other. After removal of the aneurysm and radial nerve neurolysis, the patients' symptoms were relieved. In a thorough review of the literature, we found these to be the first examples of traumatic aneurysms of collateral radial arteries causing unusual delayed neural palsies.