Apparent conduction block in patients with ulnar neuropathy at the elbow and proximal Martin-Gruber anastomosis.
A Martin-Gruber anastomosis (MGA) commonly results in an abnormal decline in amplitude across the forearm segment when ulnar motor nerve conduction studies are performed. A recent report described a proximal MGA resembling partial conduction block in a patient with ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (UNE). As a result, we screened patients with similar findings. We detected a proximal MGA in three patients over a period of 2 years, which suggests that this may be an under-recognized anomaly. We conclude that a proximal MGA must be excluded in all cases of UNE showing apparent partial conduction block across the elbow segment.
Whitaker
Charles H
CH
Department of Neurology, University of Connecticut Health Center, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, Connecticut 06030, USA. cwhitaker@uchc.edu
Felice
Kevin J
KJ
D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004550:Elbow / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009421:Nervous System Malformations / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology*; D014459:Ulnar Nerve / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D020424:Ulnar Neuropathies / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*