Occupational Pressure Neuritis of the Deep Palmar Branch of the Ulnar Nerve

FOCAL atrophic paralysis of the small muscles of the hand without cutaneous sensory disturbances may be caused by the benign disorder of neuritis of the deep palmar branch of the ulnar nerve as well as the syndromes of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and myelopathi[ill] muscular atrophy (Duchenne-Aran disease). It is of clinical importance to differentiate these disorders. Neuritis of the deep palmar branch of the ulnar nerve is rarely reported in the literature, although it may not be of rare occurrence. For this reason the following patient is presented. REPORT OF A CASE A. T., a 50 year old white married telephone cable splicer, was admitted to the hospital Nov. 20, 1947, with a chief complaint of of strength in the right grip. The patient, in robust good health, noted the sudden painless loss of strength in his right hand while at work six weeks prior to admission. There were