Author/Authors :
Benedito Caetano, Edie Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo - School of Medical and Health Sciences - Department of Surgery, Sorocaba, SP, Brazil , Paulo Nunes Toledo, João Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo - School of Medical and Health Sciences - Department of Surgery, Sorocaba, SP, Brazil , Aparecido do Amaral Júnior, Sérgio Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo - School of Medical and Health Sciences - Department of Surgery, Sorocaba, SP, Brazil , Angelo Vieira, Luiz Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo - School of Medical and Health Sciences - Department of Surgery, Sorocaba, SP, Brazil , D’Andrea Pigossi, Beatriz Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo - School of Medical and Health Sciences - Department of Surgery, Sorocaba, SP, Brazil , Alves de Andrade, Renato Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo - School of Medical and Health Sciences - Department of Surgery, Sorocaba, SP, Brazil
Abstract :
Objective: To analyse the anatomical variations of the median nerve
motor branches in the elbow region. Methods: Twenty upper limbs
of 10 adult male cadavers were prepared by intra-arterial injection
of a solution of 10% glycerol and formaldehyde. All cadavers be-
longed to the institution anatomy laboratory. Results: We found a
great variability within the distribution of median nerve branches
leading to forearm muscles. Only three limbs (14%) presented the
normal standard of innervation described in anatomy treatises. The
pronator teres muscle (PTM), flexor carpi radialis (FCR), palmaris
longus (PL), and the flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) received
exclusive innervation from the median nerve in all forearms. The
anterior interosseous nerve (AIN) also originated from the median
nerve in all dissected limbs. Conclusion: A thorough understanding
of the anatomy of the median nerve branches is important for
performing surgeries such as: approach to the proximal third of
the forearm, alleviation of pronator teres and anterior interosseous
nerve compression syndromes, and distal nerve transfers. It also
enables a better understanding the recovery of muscle function
after a nerve injury. Level of Evidence IV, Case series.
