To the Editor.—
Michael R. Rask, MD, in his article, "Watchband Superficial Radial Neurapraxia" (241:2702, 1979), reminded us of local trauma from a watch to the superficial radial nerve.Stopford1 reported neuropathy of the dorsal cutaneous branch of the ulnar nerve from a "wristlet watch," and a similar case involving the superficial branch of the radial nerve was reported by Matzdorff2 in 1926.In 1932, Wartenberg3 described other cases and called it cheiralgia paresthetica (hand pain), owing to its similarity to meralgia paresthetica (thigh pain), but many have referred to this isolated neuropathy as Wartenberg's syndrome.4Paresthesia, annoying numbness, and a Tinel's sign, such as in Rask's case, are usual and in most cases resolve spontaneously.Other wrist trauma resulting in cheiralgia paresthetica includes that caused by handcuffs, which we have seen several times.