A soldier with lateral antebrachial cutaneous neuropathy: Malingering or fact?

Abstract

Introduction: Compression of the lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve (LACN) is a rarely recognized but clearly definable syndrome. It should be taken into account in the differential diagnosis in the context of soldiers who are suspected of avoiding military duties by assuming the sick role. In this report, we describe a 23-year-old soldier who presented with avoidance of elbow extension due to a burning pain in the right forearm induced by extension. LACN neuropathy, which occurred after physical training including palm-away pull ups in the military camp and was initially suspected to be malingering, was later diagnosed according to the clinical and electrodiagnostic findings. People who are accused of malingering in military settings should be examined carefully also concerning the training-related injuries of the peripheral nervous and musculoskeletal systems. Especially for patients complaining of forearm pain that leads to inability to extend the elbow, LACN neuropathy should be considered in the differential diagnosis and confirmed by electrophysiological examination. © Turkish Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Published by Galenos Publishing.