SENSORY INNERVATION OF THE LITTLE FINGER BY AN ANOMALOUS BRANCH OF THE MEDIAN NERVE ASSOCIATED WITH RECURRENT, ATYPICAL CARPAL-TUNNEL SYNDROME

Superficial sensory communication between the ulnar and median nerves is well recognized, In the vast majority of cases this communication i s from the ulnar nerve to the median nerve. We report a case in which a communicating branch passed from the median nerve to the ulnar nerve immediately proximal to the wrist to supply sensation to the little f inger. The presence of this branch correlated with the presence of sym ptoms which had persisted in spite of conventional open carpal release 7 years earlier. Surgical decompression of this branch led to complet e resolution of those symptoms.