This study aimed to determine differences in spinal motoneuron dysfunction between the abductor pollicis brevis (APB) and the abductor digiti minimi (ADM) in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients based on studying F-waves. Forty ALS patients and 20 normal controls (NCs) underwent motor nerve conduction studies on both median and ulnar nerves, including F-waves elicited by 100 electrical ...

We reviewed 21 patients with 22 ruptures of the extensor pollicis longus at a mean of 5.3 years after transfer of the extensor indicis proprius tendon. Of these, 19 with 21 transfers described the result as good, and two as fair. The mean deficit of extension between the operated and unoperated thumbs was 1.4 cm, and the mean flexion deficit 0.6 cm. Pressure gauge measurements showed that the s...

The effect of atracurium or vecuronium on the depolarization phase of the evoked compound action potential of the adductor pollicis has been investigated in 30 adult patients. Patients were studied using single supramaximal stimulation of the ulnar nerve at the wrist. The evoked compound action potential was measured over the adductor pollicis muscle. When blockade by atracurium exceeded 80%, a...

The effect of surface electrode positioning on the evoked compound action potential (ECAP) was studied during inhalation anaesthesia without neuromuscular blockade. The ECAP of five full-term infants (aged 2-20 weeks) and five children (age 1-10 yr) was recorded with a neuromuscular relaxation monitor (Relaxograph, Datex) after supramaximal ulnar nerve stimulation. The five recording electrode ...

Introduction This paper reports anatomical study of nature, incidence, innervation and clinical implications of Flexor Pollicis Brevis muscle (FPB). Material and Methods The anatomical dissection of 60 limbs from 30 cadavers were performed in the Department of Anatomy of Medical School of Catholic University of São Paulo. Results The superficial head of FPB has been innervated by the median...

BACKGROUND Tendon entrapment of the first dorsal compartment of the wrist, the de Quervain disease, is a common cause of wrist and hand pain and disability. A group of 50 consecutive patients operated for the treatment of de Quervain disease from 2003 through 2006 were prospectively studied to determine the variation in the pattern of the first extensor compartment. METHODS Eighty-six percent...

A 23 year old male kick boxer presented with a 24 hour history of pain and being unable to extend the interphalangeal joint of the left thumb. There was no history of trauma or any other risk factor for spontaneous rupture of the extensor pollicis longus tendon. On the previous day, he had been doing reverse press ups on the dorsum of his hands with his wrists hyperflexed as part of his trainin...

Thoracoscopic sympathectomy is an acceptable form of treatment for palmar hyperhidrosis. Many authors have reported favourable results. Complications range from pneumo-haemothorax, Horner's syndrome, compensatory hyperhidrosis and bleeding. Plas et al reported 2.7% of the procedures had complications requiring intervention and 9.7% had non-interventive complications. There have been isolated re...