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

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.