Posterior interosseous nerve entrapments: review of the literature. Is the entrapment distal to the arcade of Frohse a really rare condition?

Introduction: Spontaneous posterior interosseous nerve palsy is a rare condition. Entrapment is mostly at level of the arcade of Frohse, and a few cases of distal entrapment have been described. Methods: A case of entrapment distal to the arcade of Frohse is described here. Cases of distal entrapment have been reviewed from the published literature in order to evaluate the frequency of atraumatic mechanical palsy. Results: Seven cases of distal entrapment have been identified. Lesion is the cause of palsy in 58.7% of the cases and entrapment in 20.65%. The pathology is at the elbow in 33.7% of the cases, at the arcade of Frohse in 28.26%, and at the supinator canal in 10.33%. Entrapment is at the arcade of Frohse in 64.45%, proximal in 20%, and distal in 15.55%. Conclusion: Posterior interosseous nerve distal entrapment is a rare condition; therefore, further investigation is needed when radiological images at the arcade of Frohse do not show any entrapment.