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Pronator Teres Syndrome
A compressive neuropathy of the median nerve in the region of the elbow
The median nerve passes through the cubital fossa and passes between the superficial and deep heads of the pronator teres muscle.
Rare compared to other compressive neuropathies such as carpal tunnel syndrome.
More common in women and in fifth decade of life
May be seen with weight lifters, arm wrestlers, rowers, tennis, archery, professional cyclists, dentists, fiddlers, pianists, harpists
Also associated with well-developed forearm muscles
History:
Forearm pain – unlike carpal tunnel
Paresthesias in median distribution
No night symptoms – unlike carpal tunnel
Physical exam:
Sensory loss in medial nerve distribution.
Involves the thenar eminence!
Unlike carpal tunnel syndrome which doesn’t involve sensory loss in thenar eminence.
Pain may be made worse with resisted forearm pronation
Compression/Tinel’s sign over pronator mass reproduces symptoms
Treatment:
Splinting which limits pronation and NSAIDs
Steroid injection
Surgical nerve decompression is non operative treatment fails after greater than 6 months (rare)