Thenar motor neuropathy electrophysiological study of 28 cases.
OBJECTIVE
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.
Mondelli
Mauro
M
EMG Service, Local Health Unit 7, Siena, Italy. m.mondelli@usl7.toscana.it
Aretini
Alessandro
A
Ginanneschi
Federica
F
Padua
Luca
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D005542:Forearm / Q000294:innervation* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006225:Hand / Q000294:innervation* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation; D009431:Neural Conduction; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D011826:Radial Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D012737:Sex Factors; D014459:Ulnar Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology