Abstract

VERGARA-AMADOR, Enrique  and  LUIS NIETO, José. Superficial branch of radial nerve: an anatomical study and its surgical implications. rev.fac.med. [online]. 2010, vol.58, n.3, pp.214-220. ISSN 0120-0011.

Background. The anatomy of the superficial branch of radial nerve is essential for the proper practice of surgery involving the hand and wrist. Objetive. Determine relationship between the superficial radial nerve and his branches with the radial styloid process level, Lister’s tubercle and the distribution of the radial nerve on the dorsal side of the hand. Material and methods. We dissected 25 forearms from fresh adult cadavers. The superficial radial nerve was identified and the distance between the emergence of the nerve and the radial styloid process was measured. The branches in the distal forearm were identified and the distances of these to Lister’s tubercle, and to the radial styloid process were measured. Results. The superficial radial nerve emerged in the dorsal radial region of the third distal of the forearm between the brachioradialis and extensor carpis radialis longus muscles and became subcutaneous at a mean distance of 8.45 cm. Its first branch proceeded to the radial styloid process at a mean distance of 0.74 cm. The main trunk divided into various terminal branches: the radial styloid process (12%), proximal (28%) and distal (60%). The branches, which innervate the dorsal sides of the fingers, are variable in number and distribution. The most frequent innervation pattern (56%) is the thumb and index finger and the radial side of the middle finger. Discussion. The study shows the variability for this nerve on the dorsal aspect of the hand and the high probability of injuring it in the various open, arthroscopic and percutaneous procedures on the wrist

Keywords : radial nerve; anatomy; wrist.

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