Median Nerve — Course and Lesions

A 32-year-old male carpenter from Delhi presents with a 3-week history of progressive weakness of thumb opposition and abduction, along with sensory loss over the lateral three and a half fingers. Examination reveals wasting of the thenar eminence and a positive Phalen's test. Nerve conduction studies show prolonged distal motor latency (6.2 ms) and slowed conduction velocity across the wrist. What is the most appropriate next step in management?

Which muscle is spared in a complete median nerve lesion at the elbow but is affected in carpal tunnel syndrome?

A 52-year-old woman from Mumbai presents with a 6-month history of progressive weakness in thumb opposition and flexion of the index and middle fingers at the interphalangeal joints. She denies sensory complaints. Examination reveals weakness of flexor pollicis longus, flexor digitorum superficialis (index and middle), and pronator teres. Wrist flexion is weak. There is no thenar eminence atrophy. Which segment of the median nerve is most likely affected?

Among patients presenting with median nerve lesions, which is the most common cause of entrapment neuropathy in the Indian population?

A 28-year-old woman develops carpal tunnel syndrome with progressive loss of thumb opposition and wasting of the thenar eminence. Which single clinical finding best distinguishes carpal tunnel syndrome from a proximal median nerve lesion at the elbow?