Hand drop

The inability to actively extend the wrist and fingers due to paresis or paralysis of the wrist and digital extensor muscles, typically caused by radial nerve dysfunction, resulting in wrist drop and impaired hand opening.

Causes

• Compression or entrapment of the radial nerve

• Traumatic causes

  • Humeral shaft fracture

  • Upper limb trauma

  • Shoulder dislocation

  • Surgical injury affecting the radial nerve

• Toxic and metabolic causes

  • Lead poisoning

  • Peripheral neuropathy

• Systemic neurological disorders

  • Diabetes mellitus-associated neuropathy

  • Guillain-Barré syndrome

  • Rheumatoid arthritis-related nerve compression or vasculitic neuropathy