What is wrist drop?
A person with wrist drop is unable to extend, or raise the hand at the wrist. Wrist drop is caused by damage to the radial nerve, which stimulates the muscles in the forearm to extend the wrist. The radial nerve may be damaged by a direct injury to the nerve, or by injuries to the structures around the nerve, which place pressure on the nerve.

What are the symptoms of wrist drop?
Symptoms of wrist drop include wrist weakness, resulting in the inability to raise the hand at the wrist. Additional symptoms may include wrist pain, wrist tenderness, or wrist swelling, wrist deformity, hand numbness (unilateral), and hand weakness (unilateral).

How does the doctor treat wrist drop?
Treatment for wrist drop includes removing the cause of pressure against the nerve and physical therapy. In some cases, surgery is required to repair the nerve.