Ape Hand: Difference between revisions

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<div class="editorbox"> '''Original Editor '''- [[User: Kehinde Fatola|Kehinde Fatola]] <br>


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== Introduction ==
== Introduction ==
[[File:Ape Hand.jpg|thumb]]
[[File:Ape Hand.jpg|thumb]]
Ape hand is a physical deformity in humans causing inability to abduct or oppose the thumb thereby causing the thumb little or no abduction and opposition. Abduction of the thumb is the ability to move the perpendicular (90°) away from the plane of the palm. Opposition is the ability of the first metacarpal to swing over the palmar surface of the [[Wrist and Hand|hand]] so that the thumb and the tip of the little finger are in contact. The thumb may also experience limited flexion and extension.  
Ape hand deformity is a condition in which the thumb is permanently rotated and adducted, resulting in a loss of its opposable function. This deformity is caused by damage to the distal median [[Median Nerve|nerve]], which supplies the muscles that control the thumb.<ref>Dydyk AM, Negrete G, Cascella M. Median nerve injury.[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK553109/]</ref> Abduction of the thumb is the ability to move the perpendicular (90°) away from the plane of the palm. The opposition is the ability of the first metacarpal to swing over the palmar surface of the [[Wrist and Hand|hand]] so that the thumb and the tip of the little finger are in contact. The thumb may also experience limited flexion and extension.
 
The term "ape hand" is however misleading as apes have opposable hands but due to the limitations in the function of the thumb, some people believe it makes the hand looks like that of an ape.  


== Mechanism of Injury / Pathological Process  ==
== Mechanism of Injury / Pathological Process  ==


The mechanism of injury are deep injuries to the arm, forearm and [[Wrist & Hand Examination|wrist]] causing damage to the [[Median Nerve|median nerve]] thereby causing impairment to the thenar muscles and opponents policis<br>  
The mechanism of injury is a deep injury to the arm, forearm and [[Wrist & Hand Examination|wrist]] causing damage to the [[Median Nerve|median nerve]] thereby causing impairment to the [[Thenar and Hypothenar Muscles Of The Hand|thenar muscles]] and [[Wrist and Hand|opponens policis]]. <ref>Gross Anatomy - The Brachial Plexus. Available from; https://web.archive.org/web/20090904141914/http://www.upstate.edu/cdb/grossanat/limbs2.shtml (Last accessed 11/Oct/2020) </ref><br>  


== Clinical Presentation  ==
== Clinical Presentation  ==


The condition is a part of median nerve palsy and it typically present with problems moving the thumb in various planes. There is limited range of motion of the thumb.<br>  
The condition is a part of median nerve palsy and it typically presents with problems moving the thumb in various planes. There is a limited range of motion of the thumb.<br>  


== Management / Interventions  ==
== Management / Interventions  ==


Surgery may be prescribed depending on the severity of the deformity, anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroid injections may also be used. Occupational therapy, Physiotherapy and dynamic splinting which pulls the thumb in opposition may prevent excess in deformity. It is however possible to recover without treatment.<br>  
Surgery may be prescribed depending on the severity of the deformity, anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroid injections may also be used. <ref>Washington State Department of Labor and Industry. [https://web.archive.org/web/20110601061747/http://www.lni.wa.gov/ClaimsIns/Files/OMD/MedTreat/ProximalMedianNerve.pdf Work-Related Proximal Median Nerve Entrapment (PMNE) Diagnosis and Treatment (PDF).] 2009.</ref> Occupational therapy, Physiotherapy and dynamic splinting which pulls the thumb in opposition may prevent excess in deformity. It is however possible to recover without treatment. Physical therapy helps to regain muscle strength while splints (C-splints) and braces help to recover. <ref>US National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus.  Distal median nerve dysfunction. Available from; https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000691.htm (Last accessed 11/10/2020)</ref> Although not much research has been done on Physiotherapy and Ape Hand, according to one study published in 2017, ape hand deformity improves with physiotherapy.<ref>Amelot A, Lechanoine F, François P, Terrier LM. Bilateral ape hand deformity. Neurology. 2017 Aug 8;89(6):638-9.
 
[https://n.neurology.org/content/89/6/638]</ref>  


== Differential Diagnosis  ==
== Differential Diagnosis  ==
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# [[Trigger Finger|Trigger finger]]<br>
# [[Trigger Finger|Trigger finger]]<br>


== Resources    ==
{{#ev:youtube|0AAligXLJ1A}}<ref>FSUMedMedia | Claw Hand, Ape Hand, and the Sign of Benediction: Animated Review | Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AAligXLJ1A [Last accessed: 11/17/2021]</ref>
 
add appropriate resources here


== References  ==
== References  ==


<references />
<references />
[[Category:Hand - Conditions]]
[[Category:Hand]]
[[Category:Conditions]]

Latest revision as of 16:39, 8 August 2023

Introduction[edit | edit source]

Ape Hand.jpg

Ape hand deformity is a condition in which the thumb is permanently rotated and adducted, resulting in a loss of its opposable function. This deformity is caused by damage to the distal median nerve, which supplies the muscles that control the thumb.[1] Abduction of the thumb is the ability to move the perpendicular (90°) away from the plane of the palm. The opposition is the ability of the first metacarpal to swing over the palmar surface of the hand so that the thumb and the tip of the little finger are in contact. The thumb may also experience limited flexion and extension.

The term "ape hand" is however misleading as apes have opposable hands but due to the limitations in the function of the thumb, some people believe it makes the hand looks like that of an ape.

Mechanism of Injury / Pathological Process[edit | edit source]

The mechanism of injury is a deep injury to the arm, forearm and wrist causing damage to the median nerve thereby causing impairment to the thenar muscles and opponens policis. [2]

Clinical Presentation[edit | edit source]

The condition is a part of median nerve palsy and it typically presents with problems moving the thumb in various planes. There is a limited range of motion of the thumb.

Management / Interventions[edit | edit source]

Surgery may be prescribed depending on the severity of the deformity, anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroid injections may also be used. [3] Occupational therapy, Physiotherapy and dynamic splinting which pulls the thumb in opposition may prevent excess in deformity. It is however possible to recover without treatment. Physical therapy helps to regain muscle strength while splints (C-splints) and braces help to recover. [4] Although not much research has been done on Physiotherapy and Ape Hand, according to one study published in 2017, ape hand deformity improves with physiotherapy.[5]

Differential Diagnosis[edit | edit source]

  1. Carpal tunnel syndrome
  2. De Quervain's tendinosis
  3. Trigger finger

[6]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Dydyk AM, Negrete G, Cascella M. Median nerve injury.[1]
  2. Gross Anatomy - The Brachial Plexus. Available from; https://web.archive.org/web/20090904141914/http://www.upstate.edu/cdb/grossanat/limbs2.shtml (Last accessed 11/Oct/2020)
  3. Washington State Department of Labor and Industry. Work-Related Proximal Median Nerve Entrapment (PMNE) Diagnosis and Treatment (PDF). 2009.
  4. US National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus.  Distal median nerve dysfunction. Available from; https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000691.htm (Last accessed 11/10/2020)
  5. Amelot A, Lechanoine F, François P, Terrier LM. Bilateral ape hand deformity. Neurology. 2017 Aug 8;89(6):638-9. [2]
  6. FSUMedMedia | Claw Hand, Ape Hand, and the Sign of Benediction: Animated Review | Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AAligXLJ1A [Last accessed: 11/17/2021]