Persistent median artery in carpal tunnel syndrome

Persistent median artery of the forearm and wrist is not very frequently observed. Only a few cases of persistent median artery thrombosis associated with compression of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel have been reported: in these cases symptoms arise acutely and surgery consists in the excision of the thrombosed arterial branch. In a patient with recurrent carpal tunnel syndrome, with a patent median artery and duplication of the median nerve, we performed neurolysis of the nerve and repositioning of the artery to the ulnar side. Electromyography, arteriography and clinical examinations performed six months later showed that irritative phenomena of the median nerve had regressed and the artery was still patent.