Question

A 55-year-old man complains of weakness in the right hand with pins/needles sensation. Denies head, neck, or upper extremities injury. The patient has been smoking a pack a day for 30 years. On physical examination, he has decreased feeling to the 5th digit. What disability will most likely be present in this patient?

a. Wrist adduction
b. Wrist abduction
c. Wrist extension
d. Elbow flexion

Answer 1

The most likely disability in the patient with decreased sensation in the 5th digit and a smoking history is wrist adduction, suggesting ulnar neuropathy.

Step-by-step explanation:

The 55-year-old man with a smoking history and complaints of weakness in the right hand along with a pins/needles sensation likely has a nerve compression or damage affecting his hand. Given the decreased sensation to the 5th digit, which is innervated by the ulnar nerve, this scenario might suggest ulnar neuropathy at the elbow or wrist. The ulnar nerve is responsible for wrist adduction. Therefore, with these symptoms, the most likely disability would be a. Wrist adduction. Ulnar neuropathy could be related to the patient’s history of smoking, as it can contribute to vascular diseases that affect nerve function.