ISSN 2326-7275
International Journal of Anatomy and Physiology ISSN: 2326-7275 Vol. 4 (1), pp. 060-064, January, 2015. © International Scholars Journals
Full length Research paper
The variable origin of dorsal branch of the ulnar nerve and its clinical significance
Waseem Al Talalwah
King Abdullah International Medical Research Center / King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Hospital – NGHA, Saudi Arabia.
E-mail: [email protected]
Accepted 18 August, 2014.
Abstract
The dorsal branch of ulnar nerve is usually arising proximal to the wrist innervating the skin on the dorsal aspect of the medial 1½ digits. The present study clarifies significance of the variable origin of the dorsal branch in case of coexistent ulnar palsy and neuroma result in diverse clinical pictures. Taking the distance between the medial epicondyle and the pisiform and dividing it into thirds (proximal, middle, distal) the current study, based on the dissection of 76upper limbs, found that the dorsal branch of the ulnar nerve hada variable origin in the forearm, arising in the proximal, middle and distalthirds in 3.9%, 17.2%, 78.9% of specimens respectively. With a variability of dorsal branch of the ulnar nerve, there is a variability of clinical presentation according to site of ulnar nerve injury occurring before or after its origin. As a result, the injury occurring before the origin dorsal branch of ulnar nerve may present withdermatome and myetom dysfunction while the injury occurring after the origin dorsal branch of ulnar nerve may present withdermatome dysfunction. Therefore, the study clarifies the significance of the dorsal branch of the ulnar nerve origintoorthopaedicstodecrease iatrogenic injury.
Key words: Ulnar nerve, dorsal branch of the ulnar nerve origin, ulnar nerve palsy, arthroscopy, claw hand internal fixation of ulna, ulnar neuropathy, ulnar neuroma, ulnar auto-graft.