A rare variant innervation of adductor pollicis muscle from median nerve in an adult cadaver in middle east: a case report

Few sporadic reports have been found in past and some of them described this as an etiological factor for incomplete nerve decompression or erroneous results during electrophysiological studies. Here we describe a rare case of adductor pollicis muscle in hand which was supplied from branch arising from lateral ramus of median nerve. In past, such variation in innervation of adductor pollicis brevis has never been reported in this region. Presence may be attributed to rerouting of nerve fibers at various levels. Particularly in light of the increasing number of nerve conduction studies, knowledge of normal and variant anatomic features has become more important than in the past.. Knowledge about variant innervation pattern would thus aid in correct explanation of results during motor testing of hypothenar and thenar muscles and while interpreting variant symptomatology in carpal tunnel syndrome and muscle contractures. Prior academic knowledge in nerve supply of muscles are extremely important and awareness would thus help to prevent iatrogenic injuries and better prognosis in cases of nerve decompression procedures, muscle flap transplant and various graft surgeries.