Abstract

Safety zones to avoid nerve injury at proximal incision of posterior minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis for humerus fracture have been scarcely studied. The purpose of this study was to describe the location of axillary and radial nerves (RN) in magnetic resonance imaging to establish safety zones. Fifty-two magnetic resonance imaging studies of the entire humerus were reviewed. The mean age was 50.6±12.1 years, with 37 female patients. The distance of the axillary nerve (AN; distal portion, humeral midpoint) and RN (medial border, midpoint, and lateral border of the humerus) was measured in relation to the posterolateral acromion angle, acromioclavicular axis, and transepicondylar axis. Univariate analysis (Student's t test) and a multivariate analysis (linear regression) were performed. P values < .05 were considered significant. The AN location at the humerus was 54.9±6.4 mm (20.1% humeral length [HL]) in relation to posterolateral acromion angle and 63.2±6.1 mm (23.2% HL) in relation to acromioclavicular axis. The RN location was 100.2±17.1 mm (36.6% HL) at the humerus medial border, 118.0±21.5 mm (43.1% HL) at the humerus midpoint, and 146.0±24.4 mm (53.6% HL) at the humerus lateral border. In relation to transepicondylar axis, it was 175.4±15.6 mm (64.3% HL), 156.0±19.0 mm (57.2% HL), and 127.4±21.2 mm (46.7% HL), respectively. Nerves location was related to HL, independent of gender. The main finding of our study is that the location of the AN and RN in relation to the humerus is related to the HL and can be used to predictably define the safe zones to avoid nerve injury in the proximal incision of posterior minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis for humerus fractures.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.