Electrophysiologic assessment of a median nerve injury in the palm

In median nerve lesions of the hand, electrophysiologic evaluation of the second lumbrical muscle can help to differentiate between lesions of the common digital nerves and the proper digital nerves, as illustrated by this case report. Median nerve conduction studies to the second lumbrical muscle can be performed by placing an active recording electrode just radial to the midpoint of the third metacarpal and stimulating the median nerve at the wrist or elbow.