Wartenberg Syndrome

Wartenberg Syndrome: Rare but Very Unpleasant

The most common cause of Wartenberg syndrome is compression of a nerve branch (ramus superficialis nervi radialis) at its point of passage through the forearm fascia between the brachioradialis muscle and the extensor carpi radialis muscle. Treatment involves identifying the nerve at its point of passage and releasing it from the surrounding structures that are causing compression.

The symptoms of Wartenberg syndrome, when limited to pain without sensory disturbances, resemble those of de Quervain’s tenosynovitis (a constriction syndrome affecting the tendons of the abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis muscles). For this reason, even when de Quervain’s tenosynovitis is clearly diagnosed, some authors recommend inspecting the nearby passage point of the radial nerve branch a few centimeters away to rule out an additional source of pain.

The procedure is, of course, fully covered by health insurance.