Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Secondary to Acute Thrombosis of Persistent Median Artery and Review of the Literature

Abstract

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common neuropathy of the upper extremity.1 We report a case in which a twenty-eight-year-old manual labourer presented with acute thrombosis in a persistent median artery which triggered acute carpal tunnel symptoms. A bifid median nerve was found upon carpal tunnel release. The knowledge of the existence of this anatomic variation is important in order to prevent inadvertent injury. We further discuss the possible aetiologies for CTS as well as neurovascular anomalies which may lead to median nerve compression at the wrist.