J Xu1, Y Gu, J Lao, X Cheng, Z Dong. 1. Department of Orthopedics and Hand Surgery, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou 350001, China.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the anatomic basis of vascularized ulnar nerve graft by the pedicle of the superior collateral ulnar artery (SCUA). METHODS: Twenty-two fresh cadaver upper extremities injected i ntra-arterially with latex were dissected to study the extrinsic blood supply of the ulnar nerve. Other 6 fresh upper extremities were used to analyze the blood supply range of SCUA inside the ulnar nerve by microangiographic and histological methods. RESULTS: The ulnar nerve was supplied by a branch of the lateral thoracic artery or directly by the axillary artery in the axillary section, by b ranches of SCUA in the upper arm, and by branches from the anastomosis of the collateral arteries and the posterior branch of the recurrent ulnar artery in the elbow. SCUA could supply the whole ulnar nerve from the axilla to the wrist. CONCLUSIONS: The ulnar nerve can be used as a vascularized nerve graft by the pedicle of SCUA in treatment of brachial plexus roots avulsion by C7 transfer from healthy side.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the anatomic basis of vascularized ulnar nerve graft by the pedicle of the superior collateral ulnar artery (SCUA). METHODS: Twenty-two fresh cadaver upper extremities injected i ntra-arterially with latex were dissected to study the extrinsic blood supply of the ulnar nerve. Other 6 fresh upper extremities were used to analyze the blood supply range of SCUA inside the ulnar nerve by microangiographic and histological methods. RESULTS: The ulnar nerve was supplied by a branch of the lateral thoracic artery or directly by the axillary artery in the axillary section, by b ranches of SCUA in the upper arm, and by branches from the anastomosis of the collateral arteries and the posterior branch of the recurrent ulnar artery in the elbow. SCUA could supply the whole ulnar nerve from the axilla to the wrist. CONCLUSIONS: The ulnar nerve can be used as a vascularized nerve graft by the pedicle of SCUA in treatment of brachial plexus roots avulsion by C7 transfer from healthy side.