Compression of the Deep Palmar Branch of the Ulnar Nerve

Excerpt

Physical therapists frequently are called on to evaluate and treat persons who have disturbances of hand function. These disturbances may be presented as muscle atrophy, deformities, motor dysfunction, altered sensation, and vasomotor, secretory, and trophic changes.^{1(p 735)} When the cause of these disturbances is thought to be a peripheral nerve injury, electrophysiological testing procedures are important to help delineate the problem. These procedures assist in determining the site and degree of injury as well as the extent of motor recovery associated with nerve regeneration. They aid in distinguishing or corroborating nerve injuries, submaximal effort, innervation anomalies, diseases, or other injuries of the lower motor neuron.

This case report is presented to illustrate the importance of using EMG and nerve conduction studies in the evaluation of a possible ulnar nerve lesion in the hand.…