Reactions Weekly | 2021
Prilocaine/triamcinolone
Abstract
Radial nerve paralysis: case report A 68-year-old man developed radial nerve paralysis during treatment with prilocaine and triamcinolone for lateral epicondylitis. The man presented with complaints of elbow pain on the left side and a feeling of pain and weakness while gripping objects. His pain had been ongoing for 6 months. He had been previously diagnosed with lateral epicondylitis and received various treatments including exercise therapy, cold application, unspecified NSAIDs and activity modifications; however, no significant decrease in his pain was noted. At the presentation, based on multiple examinations, he was diagnosed with lateral epicondylitis. Therefore, he started receiving treatment with prilocaine [prilocaine hydrochloride] 0.5cc injection and triamcinolone [triamcinolone hexacetonide] 1cc injection, given into his elbow lateral epicondyle tendon attachment site. Subsequent improvement was noted in his pain. However, the sensory assessment showed hypoesthesia in the radial nerve trace. Thus, a diagnosis of prilocaine and triamcinolone injection-induced radial nerve paralysis was made. The man’s hand was placed into a splint as appropriate. After 24 hours, the motor weakness experienced by him had regressed completely, however hypoesthesia that developed across the radial nerve trace continued. After 72 hours, his all complaints that occurred after the injection resolved. Moreover, his pain in the lateral epicondyle area disappeared completely.