The Course of Posterior Antebrachial Cutaneous Nerve: Anatomical and Sonographic Study with a Clinical Implication

Jose García-Martínez, Maribel Miguel-Pérez, Albert Pérez-Bellmunt, Sara Ortiz-Miguel and Ginés Viscor
Additional contact information
Jose García-Martínez: Horta Osteopathic Clinic, 08031 Barcelona, Spain
Maribel Miguel-Pérez: Unit of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (Bellvitge Campus), University of Barcelona, 08907 Hospitalet del Llobregat, Spain
Albert Pérez-Bellmunt: Basic Sciences Department, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, 08017 Barcelona, Spain
Sara Ortiz-Miguel: Unit of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (Bellvitge Campus), University of Barcelona, 08907 Hospitalet del Llobregat, Spain
Ginés Viscor: Physiology Section, Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 15, 1-15

Abstract: The course of the posterior antebrachial cutaneous nerve (PACN) was studied via ultrasound (US) and dissection. The aim of this study was to reveal the anatomical relationships of PACN with the surrounding structures along its pathway to identify possible critical points of compression. Nineteen cryopreserved cadaver body donor upper extremities were explored via US and further dissected. During US exploration, two reference points, in relation with the compression of the nerve, were marked using dye injection: (1) the point where the RN pierces the lateral intermuscular septum (LIMS) and (2) the point where the PACN pierces the deep fascia. Anatomical measurements referred to the lateral epicondyle (LE) were taken at these two points. Dissection confirmed the correct site of US-guided dye injection at 100% of points where the RN crossed the LIMS (10.5 cm from the LE) and was correctly injected at 74% of points where the PACN pierce the deep fascia (7.4 cm from the LE). There were variations in the course of the PACN, but it always divided from the RN as an only branch. Either ran close and parallel to the LIMS until the RN crossed the LIMS (84%) or clearly separated from the RN, 1 cm before it crossed the LIMS (16%). In 21% of cases, the PACN crossed the LIMS with the RN, while in the rest of the cases it always followed in the posterior compartment. A close relationship between PACN and LIMS, as well as triceps brachii muscle and deep fascia was observed. The US and anatomical study showed that the course of PACN maintains a close relationship with the LIMS and other connective tissues (such as the fascia and subcutaneous tissue) to be present in its pathology and treatment.

Keywords: posterior antebrachial cutaneous nerve; ultrasound and anatomical pathway and relations; possible compression (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/15/7733/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/15/7733/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:15:p:7733-:d:598351

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().