In addition to the commonly known thumb deformities caused by osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, there is another condition known as thenar wasting that can also lead to thumb deformities. This condition is typically caused by injury or compression of...
In addition to the commonly known thumb deformities caused by osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, there is another condition known as thenar wasting that can also lead to thumb deformities. This condition is typically caused by injury or compression of the median nerve.
What causes the deformity?
The median nerve innervates the opponens pollicis (OP) and abductor pollicis brevis (APB). These two muscles make up most of the bulk of the thenar eminence and allow the thumb to perform palmar abduction (thumb opening away from the palm) and rotation for pad to pad prehension.
