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Case Reports
. 2019 Dec 10;11(12):e6335.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.6335.

Ulnar Nerve Injury and Froment's Test: A Case Report

David Cloete  1 , Sa'ad Lahri  2
Affiliations
Case Reports

Ulnar Nerve Injury and Froment's Test: A Case Report

David Cloete et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Traumatic, peripheral nerve injuries can be easily missed in the emergency department. The attending physician needs to maintain a high index of suspicion when reviewing patients with extremity injuries. We present a case of a stable, 28-year-old male sustaining penetrating trauma to his right forearm with resultant, isolated ulnar nerve transection. Clinical findings and related anatomy are discussed pertaining to this patient's injury, with specific reference to Froment's test. This is a useful clinical adjunct when reviewing potential ulnar nerve injuries, demonstrating disruption of specific motor innervation to the thumb when such pathology exists. As a result, compensatory hyperflexion occurs with attempted thumb adduction, due to intact median nerve innervation of flexor pollicis longus. Early recognition of this pathology, whether isolated or concomitant, allows for early appropriate referral and improved patient outcomes.

Keywords: extremity injury; froment's test; gunshot forearm; ulnar claw; ulnar nerve injury; upper limb injury.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Gunshot wound on the right forearm
Figure 2
Figure 2. Course and innervation of the ulnar nerve
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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