Pronator Syndrome misdiagnosed as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - A Case Report -

Journal of the Korean Society for Surgery of the Hand 2006;11(1):61-65.
Published online March 1, 2006.

Duke Whan Chung, Jun Young Park, Sun Teak Jeong

수근관 증후군으로 오진된 원형 회내근 증후군 - 1예 보고 -

정덕환, 박준영, 정선택

Abstract

Pronator syndrome is median nerve compression neuropathies at the site where the nerve passes through the pronator teres, to which Seyffarth was the first to draw attention in 1951. Pronator syndrome is very rare and often misdiagnosed as carpal tunnel syndrome. A 36-year-old female patient was referred to our clinics. Initially carpal tunnel syndrome was suspected. But her symptom had shown atypical pattern such as distal interphalangeal joint’s complete paresis of flexion in index finger. We planned carpal tunnel release and exploration of median nerve at proximal forearm simultaneously. Postoperatively we gained complete recovery of hand function free of symptom at last follow-up. It is often difficult to differentiate pronator syndrome from carpal tunnel syndrome. Indeed, these two conditions may coexist(double crush syndrome). If atypical carpal tunnel syndrome is suspected, appropriate diagnosis and treatment should be pursued.