title: Symptomatic neural loop causing hemidigital anesthesia: case report.
abstract: Digital neural loops were identified over a century ago and are common findings in cadaveric studies of palmar and digital anatomy. Symptomatic digital neural loops are rare. We report a case of hemidigital anesthesia resulting from a proper digital nerve neural loop penetrated by its common digital artery in the palm. After neurolysis of the median nerve and the common and proper digital nerves to the third webspace, we transected the common digital artery, transposed it out of the neural loop, and repaired it. The patient's sensory symptoms fully resolved over 6 weeks. The differential diagnosis, diagnostic workup, and surgical treatment are reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Kurt J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Hofmann
authors.forename: David E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Ruchelsman
mesh_terms: D005385:Fingers / Q000294:innervation*; D006801:Humans; D006987:Hypesthesia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery*