A surgical approach to the posterior interosseous branch of the radial nerve through the brachioradialis--a cadaveric study.

Twelve cadaveric upper limbs were selected to evaluate the surgical approach to the posterior interosseous nerve through the midline of brachioradialis. There were 6 right and 6 left upper limbs. The limbs were placed with forearm in mid-prone position and elbow at 90 degrees of flexion. The incisions were made 2 cm distal to the lateral condyle and along the midline of the brachioradialis towards the radial styloid process for an average of 4.7 cm. The lateral cutaneous nerve of forearm was found lying on the anterior third of the brachioradialis. The brachioradialis was split along the midline. The following structures were identified. The radial nerve branched into superficial radial nerve and posterior interosseous nerve at an average of 1.8 cm below the lateral condyle. The superficial branch descended along the anterior third of the brachioradialis. The posterior interosseous nerve passed beneath the arcade of Frohse at an average of 3.8 cm below the lateral condyle. The radial recurrent artery was found crossing the posterior interosseous nerve at an average of 2.7 cm below the lateral condyle. The nerve to the extensor carpi radialis brevis originated from the radial nerve bifurcation or its branches at an average of 2.3 cm below the lateral condyle and entered the muscle at an average of 3.9 cm below the lateral condyle. The arcade of Frohse and the superficial head of supinator were divided to expose the entire posterior interosseous nerve.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)