Rotary subluxation of the scaphoid resulting in persistent carpal tunnel syndrome

Rotary subluxation of the scaphoid has not been previously reported in the English-language literature as a factor causing persistent or recurrent carpal tunnel syndrome. This report describes a sixty-seven-year-old man with persistent carpal tunnel syndrome. X-ray films showed a scapholunate gap and the scaphoid maintained a flexed position. At surgery the median nerve was found to be fixed to the undersurface of the transverse carpal ligament on the lateral side and was being compressed by the distal pole of the scaphoid.