This is an inability to extend the wrist resulting from injury to the radial nerve.

There is paralysis of extensor muscles in the forearm, and the hand is flexed at the wrist and lies flaccid.

The digits remain flexed at the metacarpophalangeal joints.

The interphalangeal joints can only be extended weakly via lumbrical muscles and interossei muscles supplied by the ulnar nerve.

This can occur when there is compression of the nerves in the axilla or upper arm in patients who sleep with their arm over a chair back, the edge of the bed, or by crutches.

Also known as “Saturday Night Palsy” b/c of it occuring frequently in drunk patients who sleep with arm over a barrier.

Recovery time for this condition is 6 weeks, but can be accelerated if the patient is anti-inflammatory

If your not accustomed to crutches, it will compress the radial nerve.

If you are on crutches for the first time, you will compress both the axillary artery and the radial nerve.

Only move that will not be affected in radial nerve injury is supination. Supination and flexion by the biceps is spared.