Clinical and electrophysiological study of entrapment syndrome of recurrent branch of median nerve / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the clinical and electrophysiological characteristics of entrapment syndrome involving the median nerve's recurrent branch. Methods Fourteen cases (10 male, 4 female, mean age 34.7) of medial nerve recurrent branch entrapment syndrome were retrospectively analyzed in this study with regard to their clinical and electrophysiological data. Results Normal sensory conduction velocity ( SCV ) and normal amplitude of the sensory nerve action potential ( SNAP) were found, but there was a delay of the distal motor latency (DML) in all 14 cases. The compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitude was decreased in 11 cases, and normal motor conduction velocity (MCV) was demonstrated in 12 cases. Fibrillation potentials and/or positive sharp waves were detected in the abductor pollicis brevis muscle in 12 cases and in the opponens pollicis muscle in 14 cases. EMGs of the flexor digitorum superficialis and pronator quadratus muscle were normal in all 14 cases. Conclusion Electrophysiological examination could provide objective and reliable data for diagnosing and differentially diagnosing median nerve recurrent branch entrapment syndrome.