Biomaterial Database

Patent median artery as a cause of carpal tunnel syndrome. 1981

E B Lavey, and R M Pearl

Persistent median artery should be considered in the evaluation of patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. We present 5 instances of carpal tunnel syndrome caused by pressure from patent median arteries. The arteries caused bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome in 1 patient. Neuropraxia can be so severe that thenar muscle atrophy and complete loss of sensation occur. We review the embryonic development of the median nerve vascular supply and the reported incidence of persistent median artery. The use of Doppler examination is stressed in evaluating whether a median artery is present, and if it is essential to digital blood supply. In each instance, the neuropraxia resolved after the patent median artery was resected.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008475	Median Nerve	A major nerve of the upper extremity. In humans, the fibers of the median nerve originate in the lower cervical and upper thoracic spinal cord (usually C6 to T1), travel via the brachial plexus, and supply sensory and motor innervation to parts of the forearm and hand.	Median Nerves,Nerve, Median,Nerves, Median
D010292	Paresthesia	Subjective cutaneous sensations (e.g., cold, warmth, tingling, pressure, etc.) that are experienced spontaneously in the absence of stimulation.	Dysesthesia,Formication,Paresthesia, Distal,Paresthesia, Painful,Distal Paresthesia,Distal Paresthesias,Dysesthesias,Formications,Painful Paresthesia,Painful Paresthesias,Paresthesias,Paresthesias, Distal,Paresthesias, Painful
D002349	Carpal Tunnel Syndrome	Entrapment of the MEDIAN NERVE in the carpal tunnel, which is formed by the flexor retinaculum and the CARPAL BONES. This syndrome may be associated with repetitive occupational trauma (CUMULATIVE TRAUMA DISORDERS); wrist injuries; AMYLOID NEUROPATHIES; rheumatoid arthritis (see ARTHRITIS, RHEUMATOID); ACROMEGALY; PREGNANCY; and other conditions. Symptoms include burning pain and paresthesias involving the ventral surface of the hand and fingers which may radiate proximally. Impairment of sensation in the distribution of the median nerve and thenar muscle atrophy may occur. (Joynt, Clinical Neurology, 1995, Ch51, p45)	Compression Neuropathy, Carpal Tunnel,Entrapment Neuropathy, Carpal Tunnel,Amyotrophy, Thenar, Of Carpal Origin,Median Neuropathy, Carpal Tunnel,Carpal Tunnel Syndromes,Syndrome, Carpal Tunnel,Syndromes, Carpal Tunnel
D005260	Female		Females
D006225	Hand	The distal part of the arm beyond the wrist in humans and primates, that includes the palm, fingers, and thumb.	Hands
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults
D001158	Arteries	The vessels carrying blood away from the heart.	Artery
D014652	Vascular Diseases	Pathological processes involving any of the BLOOD VESSELS in the cardiac or peripheral circulation. They include diseases of ARTERIES; VEINS; and rest of the vasculature system in the body.	Disease, Vascular,Diseases, Vascular,Vascular Disease