[Cold sensitivity after median or ulnar nerve injury based on a series of 82 cases]

Cold sensitivity often occurs after upper limb nerve injuries. 82 patients were reviewed retrospectively with an average follow-up of 42 months. Cold sensitivity occurred after 50% of median nerve injuries and after 75% of ulnar nerve injuries. Symptoms are localized to the damaged sensory nerve territory, and are related to the level of the lesion after median nerve injury. They are increased by associated arterial damage even when it is repaired. The less attened is the two-point discrimination lest, the less severe are the disorders. The origin is not really known, but we think that cold sensitivity is related to a disturbance of sympathetic and sensory fibers.