Superficial palmar communications between the ulnar and median nerves in Turkish cadavers

Abstract

The superficial palmar communicating branch between the ulnar and median nerves, the ramus communicans (RC), has been investigated by anatomical dissections in 30 hands of 15 cadavers in the Turkish population. A communicating branch between the ulnar and median nerves was found in 18 hands (60%). It was classified into 4 types: Type 1-RC emerging from the ulnar 4th common digital nerve (CDN) and uniting with the median 3rd CDN, Type 2-RC emerging from the median 3rd CDN and uniting with the ulnar 4th CDN, Type 3-RC extending horizontally between the 3rd and 4th CDN, Type 4-a plexiform RC formed by multiple twigs. Twelve hands (40%) showed the Type 1 arrangement, one was Type 2 (3.3%), two were Type 3 (6.7%) and three (10%) were Type 4, based on the classification devised by Meals and Shaner ([1983] J Hand Surg Am 8:411-414) and modified by Bas and Kleinert ([1999] J Hand Surg Am 24:1171-1184). Knowledge of the anatomical characteristics of this branch is important for surgical interventions, especially in carpal tunnel release operations.

Communications between the palmar digital branches of the median and ulnar nerves: A study in human fetuses and a review of the literature

“…Prevalence may increase during the developmental period of the nervous system in the examined fetuses. Of the published studies listed in Table 3, Tagil et al (2007) reported data from Turkish cadavers that were closest to the present data; therefore, race may play a meaningful role in the results. No meaningful differences in the prevalence of CBs were noted between male and female and/or right and left hands.…”

“…Meals and Shaner (1983) classified the CBs as previously mentioned. Other studies defined a new variation in branch structures (Kawashima et al, 2004;Loukas et al, 2007;Tagil et al, 2007). In another study of 200 dissected palms of human adult cadavers, Loukas et al (2007) were able to identify a CB between the MNs and UNs in 85% of the specimens.…”

“…In cases of a CB injury between the MNs and UNs, especially noted during the opening of the Guyon canal and in carpal-tunnel surgery, this location is defined as a ''risk area'' or ''danger zone'' (Ferrari and Gilbert, 1991;Don Griot et al, 2000;Loukas et al, 2007;Tagil et al, 2007).…”

Múltiples Variaciones Musculares y Neurovasculares en los Miembros Superiores: Presentación de Caso

“…Se matiza que los trabajos de Beheiry (2004) Las conexiones NMC-NM deben considerarse en el examen clínico de lesiones nerviosas de axila y brazo así como para el abordaje quirúrgico en estas regiones; las lesiones de NMC o del NM ubicadas en sitios proximales o distales a los ramos comunicantes determinan modificaciones benéficas o catastróficas según el caso, del patrón biomecánico del miembro superior (Loukas & Aqueelah; Badawoud). El ramo comunicante de trayectoria oblicua entre el cuarto y tercer nervio digital común, observado en nuestro caso, es el más frecuentemente descrito en la literatura (Don Griot et al;Meals & Shaner;Ferrari & Gilbert;Tagil et al, 2007;Bas & Kleinert ) con rango del 60-80%.…”

Comment on “Superficial palmar communications between the ulnar and median nerves in Turkish cadavers”

“…To the Editor, Clinical Anatomy: Tagil et al (2007) have presented a paper on the superficial palmar communications between the ulnar and median nerves in Turkish cadavers.…”