Thumb nerve damage

Thumb nerve damage can cause sensory impairment in patients, such as inability to feel nerve pain and inability to move the thumb, and it can also limit finger function. Therefore, it is recommended that everyone should have a clear understanding of the symptoms after thumb nerve damage. There are many symptoms of thumb nerve damage. You can learn about the symptoms below.

1. Sensory impairment

If the injury is distal to the origin of the wrist or forearm muscles, sensory impairment occurs on the radial half of the hand.

2. Limited thumb-to-palm and finger functions

The thumb is located on the radial side of the palm, forming an "ape hand" deformity. The thumb cannot be abducted, cannot oppose the palm or fingers. Due to anatomical variations, in some cases of complete median nerve rupture, the palmar abduction movement of the thumb may not be completely lost due to compensation by the ulnar nerve, and in a few cases the performance may be normal.

3. Flexion of thumb and index finger is blocked

If the injury is at the elbow or above, in addition to the above symptoms, the thumb and index finger cannot be actively flexed due to paralysis of the superficial flexor digitorum and the radial semidigital flexor profundus.

4. Inability or limitation of forearm pronation

5. The thenar muscles and forearm flexor muscles are significantly atrophied

6. Dysfunction of the following muscles

Pronator teres, flexor carpi radialis, palmaris longus, flexor pollicis longus, flexor index finger deep, and opponens thumb.