BACKGROUND: Ansa pectoralis neurotomy is a surgical approach in the treatment of the pectoralis major muscle spasticity causing an attitude in adduction and internal rotation of the shoulder. OBJECTIVE: To establish the anatomical landmarks allowing an easier localisation of the ansa pectoralis during neurotomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifteen adult human cadavers (10 embalmed and 5 fresh) were dissected in order to determine anatomical landmarks allowing an easier localization of the ansa pectoralis during neurotomy. RESULTS: In all the cadavers, the lateral pectoral nerve arose from the lateral cord of the brachial plexus, 0.2 cm above to 1.5 cm below the inferior border of the clavicle with a mean distance of 0.76 cm for left and right side, whereas the medial pectoral nerve arose from the medial cord of the brachial plexus, 0.7-2.3 cm below the inferior border of the clavicle with a mean distance of 0.61 cm for the left side and 0.68 cm for the right side. We systematically found both the origin of pectoral nerves and the ansa pectoralis at the level of the middle third of the distance between the sternoclavicular and the acromioclavicular joints. Moreover, ansa pectoralis was constantly localized lateral to the thoracoacromial artery. In four cases, the division of the lateral pectoral nerve was not found. In one case, medial pectoral nerve did not exist. CONCLUSION: Ansa pectoralis can be found by a curved incision made at the mid-third of the distance between the sternoclavicular and the acromioclavicular joints, the medial point being located just below the lower edge of the clavicle and the lateral point 2 cm below the inferior edge of the clavicle.
BACKGROUND: Ansa pectoralis neurotomy is a surgical approach in the treatment of the pectoralis major muscle spasticity causing an attitude in adduction and internal rotation of the shoulder. OBJECTIVE: To establish the anatomical landmarks allowing an easier localisation of the ansa pectoralis during neurotomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifteen adult human cadavers (10 embalmed and 5 fresh) were dissected in order to determine anatomical landmarks allowing an easier localization of the ansa pectoralis during neurotomy. RESULTS: In all the cadavers, the lateral pectoral nerve arose from the lateral cord of the brachial plexus, 0.2 cm above to 1.5 cm below the inferior border of the clavicle with a mean distance of 0.76 cm for left and right side, whereas the medial pectoral nerve arose from the medial cord of the brachial plexus, 0.7-2.3 cm below the inferior border of the clavicle with a mean distance of 0.61 cm for the left side and 0.68 cm for the right side. We systematically found both the origin of pectoral nerves and the ansa pectoralis at the level of the middle third of the distance between the sternoclavicular and the acromioclavicular joints. Moreover, ansa pectoralis was constantly localized lateral to the thoracoacromial artery. In four cases, the division of the lateral pectoral nerve was not found. In one case, medial pectoral nerve did not exist. CONCLUSION: Ansa pectoralis can be found by a curved incision made at the mid-third of the distance between the sternoclavicular and the acromioclavicular joints, the medial point being located just below the lower edge of the clavicle and the lateral point 2 cm below the inferior edge of the clavicle.
Authors: Frank Fitoussi; Brice Ilharreborde; Ana Presedo; Philippe Souchet; Georges F Penneçot; Keyvan Mazda Journal: J Pediatr Orthop B Date: 2010-01 Impact factor: 1.041