A. Radial nerve – Explanation

•  Extensor muscles (forearm, wrist, fingers, thumb)
•  If damaged leads to wrist drop

Sensory to

• If damaged – Sensory loss is variable, but always includes the dorsal aspect of the
  root of the thumb. Usually leads to loss to small area between the dorsal aspect of
  1st and 2nd metacarpals

It is important to remember the key phrases for nerve damage during PLAB. There are
certain phrases you need to memorise to relate it to a specific nerve damages.
Examples
Wrist drop – Radial nerve
Foot drop – Either common peroneal nerve or sciatic nerve
Claw hand – Ulnar nerve
Paraesthesia of thumb, index and middle finger – Median nerve
Numbness on superior aspect of upper arm just below shoulder joint – Axillary
nerve
Fibular neck fracture – Common peroneal nerve
Femur neck fracture or Acetabular fractures – Sciatic nerve
Fracture of humeral shaft – Likely Radial nerve
Fracture of humeral neck – Likely Axillary nerve
Monteggia fracture – Radial nerve
Paraesthesia and impaired sensation in both hands (glove distribution) –
Peripheral neuropathy