An unusual presentation of Median Nerve Entrapment at the Ligament of Struthers

Date

2021

Authors

De Asis, Oliver
McClellan, Timithy

ORCID

0000-0002-4322-6531 (De Asis, Oliver)

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Abstract

Patient with prior history of bilateral carpal tunnel release presented with pain, numbness, and tingling from the right elbow to thumb five weeks after lifting a heavy object. Patient had weakness in wrist pronation and flexor pollicis longus activation. Initial electrodiagnostic studies showed median neuropathy across the right wrist and appeared to be a recurrence of carpal tunnel syndrome. However, after three weeks the patient returned with worsening symptoms. Repeat electrodiagnostics revealed new findings in the right pronator teres and flexor digitorum profundus of the second digit, reflecting a more proximal lesion and indicated median nerve entrapment under the Ligament of Struthers (LS). The LS is a structure that originates from a supracondylar process and inserts into the medial condyle of the humerus. Both the median nerve and brachial artery pass under here creating a potential source of compression. This can lead to paresthesias and numbness of the hand and forearm, also known as supracondylar process syndrome. This process is rare due to the prevalence of the LS being 0.1% and 2.7% in the human population. can help confirm clinical findings. In symptomatic cases, surgical interventions were curative. Entrapment of the median nerve under the LS is a rare process that can lead to supracondylar process syndrome that presents similarly to carpal tunnel syndrome in addition to symptoms in a more proximal distribution. Further evaluation is warranted in such cases to rule out other causes of median nerve compression and guide further management. Subsequent referral to surgery provides definitive treatment.

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