Abstract
Purpose: To report an electrophysiological study on thenar motor neuropathy of the median nerve. Methods: Twenty-eight consecutive patients (mean age, 48.8 years; 17 men) with dominant hand thenar muscle weakness without sensory symptoms were enrolled in this study. Electromyography of hand and forearm muscles and neurography of median, ulnar, radial, and palmar nerves, including distal motor latency recording from the second interosseous-lumbrical muscles, were performed. Results: Complete denervation of the abductor pollicis brevis muscle was observed in one case and delayed median abductor pollicis brevis-distal motor latency was observed in the others. Other neurographic findings were normal. Conclusions: Thenar motor neuropathy may have different pathogeneses. It may be considered a variant of carpal tunnel syndrome involving the motor branch only or more likely due to chronic direct compression of the branch, because it preferentially affects males, dominant hand, and persons doing manual work. In both cases, anatomic origin and variations in the course of the branch may favor thenar motor neuropathy.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 344-349 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Journal of Clinical Neurophysiology |
Volume | 27 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Oct 2010 |
Keywords
- Anatomic variations
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Median nerve
- Thenar motor branch
- Thenar motor neuropathy
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Clinical Neurology
- Neurology
- Physiology
- Physiology (medical)