Sensory innervation of the little finger by an anomalous branch of the median nerve associated with recurrent, atypical carpal tunnel syndrome.

Superficial sensory communication between the ulnar and median nerves is well recognized. In the vast majority of cases this communication is from the ulnar nerve to the median nerve. We report a case in which a communicating branch passed from the median nerve to the ulnar nerve immediately proximal to the wrist to supply sensation to the little finger. The presence of this branch correlated with the presence of symptoms which had persisted in spite of conventional open carpal release 7 years earlier. Surgical decompression of this branch led to complete resolution of those symptoms.