Radial tunnel syndrome: a spectrum of clinical presentations.

A variety of symptoms associated with 15 cases of resistant tennis elbow and resistant radial tunnel pain are described. These included sensations of popping, paresthesias, and paresis. The duration of symptoms averaged 2.3 years before a definitive diagnosis of radial tunnel syndrome was made. Two unique anomalies were contributing factors in the radial nerve entrapment; one case demonstrated a completely tendinous proximal border of the extensor carpi radialis brevis and the other a bifid extensor carpi radialis brevis origin. Excellent pain relief, elimination of popping, and improvement of the paresthesias and paresis was achieved by release of the radial tunnel in cases unresponsive to conservative treatment.