Patients with neck pain due to cervical nerve root irritation can have pain in the hands and difficulty with manipulation of fine objects such as turning a key, cutting meat, picking up small objects or holding onto flat and thin objects.
They may have difficulty picking up a piece of paper and holding onto it.
Palmar interossei muscles perform this type of motion that require bending the knuckle joints (metacarpophalangeal joints).
Dorsal interossei muscles and the lumbricals keep the interphalangeal joints straight.
The extensor digitorum can then be responsible for extension of the fingertips when the metacarpophalangeal joints are flexed.
Nerve supply:
- palmar and dorsal interossei muscles are supplied by the deep branch of the ulnar nerve (C8, T1).
- Extensor digitorum is supplied by the posterior i interosseous nerve from the radial nerve (C7, C8).