A persistent median artery is a rare anatomical variant found in approximately 10%
of the population. Carpal tunnel syndrome due to a thrombosed persistent median artery
is exceptionally rare. A 29-year-old professional hockey player presented with a 2
months history of hand pain and intermittent paresthesias without vascular symptoms.
Magnetic resonance imaging and angiography demonstrated a 2-cm thrombosis in a persistent
median artery at the level of the carpal tunnel, with otherwise normal vascular anatomy.
He was treated with surgical excision of the thrombus and carpal tunnel decompression.
The patient’s symptoms resolved rapidly and he was able to return to sport without
restrictions. Incidental imaging performed several months after surgery demonstrated
a normal vascular pattern in the treated hand.
Key words
To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
Purchase one-time access:
Academic & Personal: 24 hour online accessCorporate R&D Professionals: 24 hour online accessOne-time access price info
- For academic or personal research use, select 'Academic and Personal'
- For corporate R&D use, select 'Corporate R&D Professionals'
Subscribe:
Subscribe to Journal of Hand SurgeryAlready a print subscriber? Claim online access
Already an online subscriber? Sign in
Register: Create an account
Institutional Access: Sign in to ScienceDirect
References
- Pathomechanics of peripheral nerve loading. Evidence in carpal tunnel syndrome.J Hand Ther. 2005; 18: 259-269
- Thrombosed persistent median artery causing carpal tunnel syndrome associated with bifurcated median nerve: a case report.Pol J Radiol. 2011; 76: 46-48
- Acute carpal tunnel syndrome caused by a thrombosis of a persistent median artery: 2 case reports [in French].Rev Med Interne. 2019; 40: 453-456
- Acute carpal tunnel syndrome secondary to thrombosis of a persistent median artery.Case report. J Neurosurg. 1973; 38: 774-777
- Acute carpal tunnel syndrome: median artery thrombosis as cause.Arch Surg. 1963; 87: 645
- Carpal tunnel syndrome due to thrombosed persisting median artery. A case report.Hand (N Y). 1978; 10: 65-68
- Carpal tunnel syndrome from thrombosed persistent median artery.J Emerg Med. 2002; 22: 55-57
- Carpal tunnel syndrome caused by thrombosis of the median artery: the importance of high-resolution ultrasonography for diagnosis. Case report.J Neurosurg. 2002; 97: 471-473
- Acute carpal tunnel syndrome from thrombosed persistent median artery.J Emerg Med. 1999; 17: 437-439
- Median artery in carpal tunnel syndrome.J Hand Surg Am. 1985; 10: 864-867
Article info
Publication history
Published online: March 13, 2021
Accepted:
January 6,
2021
Received:
February 16,
2020
Footnotes
No benefits in any form have been received or will be received related directly or indirectly to the subject of this article.
Identification
Copyright
© 2022 by the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. All rights reserved.
