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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Revista Iberoamericana de Cirugía de la Mano 2021; 49(01): 019-023
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1730002
Original Article | Artículo original

Surgical Anatomy of the Medial Antebrachial Cutaneous Nerve: Clinical Application in Ulnar Nerve Decompression Surgery in the Elbow

Article in several languages: English | español
Barbara Gomez-Eslava 
1   Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Hand and Upper Limb Surgery, Hospital Universitario San Ignacio-Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogota, Colombia
,
Luis Alejandro García-González 
1   Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Hand and Upper Limb Surgery, Hospital Universitario San Ignacio-Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogota, Colombia
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Abstract

Introduction Lesion to the posterior branch of the medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve (MACN) is one of the causes of revision of the ulnar nerve decompression surgery in the elbow.

To avoid the morbidity associated with this injury, cadaver dissections were performed to identify this branch in its course through the ulnar tunnel.

Methods We included 20 upper extremities of fresh cadaveric specimens. The posterior branch of the MACN was identified proximal to medial epicondyle and followed past the ulnar tunnel. The number of ramifications and their coordinates were recorded in a Cartesian plane, with the medial epicondyle as the central point.

Results The posterior branch passed proximal and posterior to the medial epicondyle in all specimens, except one. The average of the adjusted x value is of 30 mm, and of the adjusted y value is -18 mm. Additionally, we determined that the posterior branch passes at an average angle of 30° with respect to the x axis.

Conclusion The anatomical descriptions of this branch focused on surgical release of the ulnar nerve in the elbow are limited, and measures are only described in the horizontal plane (from proximal to distal). Schematizing the anatomy of this branch in its course throughout the ulnar tunnel will facilitate its identification during the procedures. However, variability and asymmetry in the branching pattern should be considered.

Keywords

anatomy - ulnar tunnel syndrome - peripheral nerve injury


Publication History

Received: 17 April 2020

Accepted: 15 January 2021

Article published online:
02 July 2021

© 2021. SECMA Foundation. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commecial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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