Context

Nerve entrapment syndromes are a group of conditions in which peripheral nerves are damaged, through compression or repeated trauma. This session will look at conditions which cause compression of three nerves:

• Suprascapular nerve
• Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (meralgia paraesthesia)
• Tibial nerve at the ankle (tarsal tunnel syndrome)

The pathological process is similar in each case. Therefore, the general principles of treatment are similar.

The generic features will be considered first. Each nerve-specific syndrome will then be reviewed, the anatomy described and specific treatments discussed.

Median nerve at the wrist (carpal tunnel syndrome), ulnar nerve at the wrist and elbow and radial nerve in the forearm are examined in the Learning Zone session: on Common Entrapment Syndromes.