title: Ultrasound study is useful to discriminate between axonotmesis and neurotmesis also in very small nerves: a case of sensory digital ulnar branch study.
abstract: Discrimination between axonotmesis and neurotmesis is crucial in traumatic nerve injury. We present the case of a 43-year-old woman which presented hypoesthesia in the fourth and fifth right fingers, started after surgery for Dupuytren syndrome. At ultrasound study, the ulnar digital sensory branch was identified. Before the division into the two terminal branches, a neuroma was observed, while neurotmesis was excluded. This case shows the utility of ultrasonography in peripheral nervous system examination and the possibility of visualization of very small nerves and their terminal branches.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurology, Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy. rosrenna@yahoo.it
authors.forename: Rosaria
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Renna
authors.forename: Renna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rosaria
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Coraci
authors.forename: Coraci
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Daniele
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: De Franco
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Erra
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ceruso
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Padua
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D059348:Peripheral Nerve Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology*; D014459:Ulnar Nerve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*