Palmaris Brevis Spasm

Scientific BACKGROUND: Palmaris brevis spasm syndrome is a rare and unusual syndrome with contraction and fasciculations of the palmaris brevis (PB) muscle. Etiology has been postulated as repetetive stretch of the superficial branch of the ulnar nerve or possibly radiculopathy. CASE: 20-year-old...

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Main Authors: Semai Bek, Rıfkı Önal, Ümit Hıdır, Yaşar Kütükçü, Zeki Odabaşı
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Galenos Yayinevi 2007-12-01
Series:Türk Nöroloji Dergisi
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.tjn.org.tr/jvi.aspx?pdir=tjn&plng=eng&un=TJN-91300
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author Semai Bek
Rıfkı Önal
Ümit Hıdır
Yaşar Kütükçü
Zeki Odabaşı
author_facet Semai Bek
Rıfkı Önal
Ümit Hıdır
Yaşar Kütükçü
Zeki Odabaşı
author_sort Semai Bek
collection DOAJ
description Scientific BACKGROUND: Palmaris brevis spasm syndrome is a rare and unusual syndrome with contraction and fasciculations of the palmaris brevis (PB) muscle. Etiology has been postulated as repetetive stretch of the superficial branch of the ulnar nerve or possibly radiculopathy. CASE: 20-year-old man complained of spontaneous, irregular, nonpainful contractions at the inner side of his left hand and pins-and-needles sensation of the left fifth finger. Neurological examination revealed spontaneous, irregular contractions of the left PB muscle, producing hypothenar dimpling. EMG showed abnormal, spontaneous activity characterized by irregular discharges from the PB muscle only, always associated with visible dimpling of the left hypothenar eminence. Nerve conduction studies revealed mild neuropathy of the ulnar nerve at the elbow in which both sensory and motor fibers were involved with decreased velocities about 30%. We administered 10 units botulinum toxin type A to PB muscle for symptomatic relief and ordered a night elbow splint therapy for ulnar neuropathy with in a conservative behavior. He was called for clinical and electrophysiologic examination after six months from the first visit. He had no spasms, his examination did not reveal any signs of sensory or motor involvement of the left ulnar nerve. His repeated motor and sensory NSC were normal. CONCLUSION: It may be idiopathic or associated with different causes and sites of ulnar nerve lesions. We presume that the PBS was due to ulnar neuropathy at the elbow in our case. To our knowledge this is the first case of PBS reported due to ulnar neuropathy at the elbow
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spelling doaj.art-cb34e33b53ad4bed9e1796c6c618600d2023-02-15T16:11:01ZengGalenos YayineviTürk Nöroloji Dergisi1301-062X1309-25452007-12-01136415418Palmaris Brevis SpasmSemai Bek0Rıfkı Önal1Ümit Hıdır2Yaşar Kütükçü3Zeki Odabaşı4Department Of Neurology, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, TurkeyDepartment Of Neurology, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, TurkeyDepartment Of Neurology, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, TurkeyDepartment Of Neurology, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, TurkeyDepartment Of Neurology, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, TurkeyScientific BACKGROUND: Palmaris brevis spasm syndrome is a rare and unusual syndrome with contraction and fasciculations of the palmaris brevis (PB) muscle. Etiology has been postulated as repetetive stretch of the superficial branch of the ulnar nerve or possibly radiculopathy. CASE: 20-year-old man complained of spontaneous, irregular, nonpainful contractions at the inner side of his left hand and pins-and-needles sensation of the left fifth finger. Neurological examination revealed spontaneous, irregular contractions of the left PB muscle, producing hypothenar dimpling. EMG showed abnormal, spontaneous activity characterized by irregular discharges from the PB muscle only, always associated with visible dimpling of the left hypothenar eminence. Nerve conduction studies revealed mild neuropathy of the ulnar nerve at the elbow in which both sensory and motor fibers were involved with decreased velocities about 30%. We administered 10 units botulinum toxin type A to PB muscle for symptomatic relief and ordered a night elbow splint therapy for ulnar neuropathy with in a conservative behavior. He was called for clinical and electrophysiologic examination after six months from the first visit. He had no spasms, his examination did not reveal any signs of sensory or motor involvement of the left ulnar nerve. His repeated motor and sensory NSC were normal. CONCLUSION: It may be idiopathic or associated with different causes and sites of ulnar nerve lesions. We presume that the PBS was due to ulnar neuropathy at the elbow in our case. To our knowledge this is the first case of PBS reported due to ulnar neuropathy at the elbowhttp://www.tjn.org.tr/jvi.aspx?pdir=tjn&plng=eng&un=TJN-91300palmaris brevis spasmulnar nevrebotulinum toxinephaptic transmission
spellingShingle Semai Bek
Rıfkı Önal
Ümit Hıdır
Yaşar Kütükçü
Zeki Odabaşı
Palmaris Brevis Spasm
Türk Nöroloji Dergisi
palmaris brevis spasm
ulnar nevre
botulinum toxin
ephaptic transmission
title Palmaris Brevis Spasm
title_full Palmaris Brevis Spasm
title_fullStr Palmaris Brevis Spasm
title_full_unstemmed Palmaris Brevis Spasm
title_short Palmaris Brevis Spasm
title_sort palmaris brevis spasm
topic palmaris brevis spasm
ulnar nevre
botulinum toxin
ephaptic transmission
url http://www.tjn.org.tr/jvi.aspx?pdir=tjn&plng=eng&un=TJN-91300
work_keys_str_mv AT semaibek palmarisbrevisspasm
AT rıfkıonal palmarisbrevisspasm
AT umithıdır palmarisbrevisspasm
AT yasarkutukcu palmarisbrevisspasm
AT zekiodabası palmarisbrevisspasm