The sensibility of the dominant hand was compared with that of the non-dominant hand using Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments in each of 22 bilateral palmar sites in 50 healthy volunteers. No difference in sensibility was found in 51% of all 2,200 tested palmar sites. Statistically significant superior sensibility was found in the non-dominant hand at 34% of all sites, whereas the dominant side showed superior sensibility in the remaining 15%.
The midline of the ring finger is classically considered as the neural watershed between the median and ulnar nerve sensory territories on the palmar surfaces of the fingers. Variations of this division exist and may be explained by a communicating branch between the third and fourth common digital nerves. The palmar sensibility patterns of fingers were assessed with Semmes Weinstein filaments after either a complete median or an ulnar nerve transection in 43 patients. Eight out of nine observed sensibility patterns could be explained by known anatomic types and subtypes of the communicating branch. The type of communicating branch, but not its subtype, could be established in the one remaining pattern.
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