Posterior antebrachial cutaneous neuropathy. Case report.

Posterior antebrachial cutaneous (PABC) neuropathy is rare. Two original cases are reported here. In case 1, the neuropathy is probably due to a traction injury in a reduction operation for humeral fracture. In case 2, it is injured associately with an operation in taking a myocutaneous flap. On examination, both cases showed a decreased sensation to pin-prick over the PABC nerve territories and a positive Tinel's sign near the injured sites. Sensory nerve conduction study of the PABC nerves revealed a low amplitude of the compound nerve action potential (CNAP) and a slow sensory nerve conduction velocity (SNCV) in case 1, and absent CNAP in case 2. Our study showed the sensory nerve conduction test is useful in confirming PABC neuropathy.