[Persistence of the median artery: possible cause of the carpal tunnel syndrome].

A case of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (S.T.S.) in a patient with Persistence of the Median Artery is reported. The Authors consider this rare-condition as a possible cause of C.T.S. The persisting vessel may cause a damage to the Median Nerve in two difeent ways: 1) Compression and 2) Ischemia. The latter pathogenesis is expecially advocated when anastomotic connection between the Median Artery and the Radial and Ulnar Arteries as well as the Superficial Palmar Arch are poor. Two different clinical pictures are possible: an acute onset, after a thrombosis, or a chronic impairment when the vessel is previous. As treatment, the Authors always recommend the decompression of the Carpal Tunnel and the dissection of the Persisting Artery; on the other side, they consider the excision of the vessel possible only when a sufficient anastomotic blood-supply is ensured.