Imaging anatomic study of deep branch of ulnar nerve

Abstract

Objective To dissect and observe the course of the deep branch of the ulnar nerve and its'distribution of the muscular branch,to provide imaging and anatomical basis for early diagnosis and treatment of the wrist deep branch of ulnar nerve injury in clinical. Methods From October 2008 to August 2010,dissected 16 fresh and 4 antiseptic samples, with the most bump of the hook of the hamate bone as the origin O,set the axis over the O point.The distance from O to the intersection point of the X axis and the deep branch of ulnar nerve was OE ; the distance from O to the intersection point with the ulnaris of hook of hamate bone was OF; the distance from O to the proximal deep branch of ulnar nerve intersection point of the Y axis was OG; the distance from O to the distal deep branch of ulnar nerve respectively was OH.Named the head of the metacarpal bone and the palm side of the center of the basal of the 2nd to the 5th metacarpal bone, through these two points,the measure related data from the deep branch of the ulnar nerve and the metacarpal bone in the sagittal plane.Having a CT scan image data,the Barium Sulfate ( Ⅱ ) dry suspension was uniformly smeared onto the surface of the deep branch of ulnar nerve, the data obtained was analyzed using SPSS 13.0. Results The length of OE was ( 4.96 ± 0.11 ) mm,CT result was (5.02 ± 0.12 ) mm; the length of OF was (3.69 ± 0.12 ) mm,CT result was(3.75 ± 0.12)mm; the length of OG was(10.55 ± 1.07)mm,CT result was(10.48 ± 0.84)mm;the length of OH was (7.23 ± 0.85)mm,CT result was (7.29 ± 0.84)mm; the length of EF was (1.27 ± 0.15 )mm,CT result was( 1.17 ± 0.16)mm.The measure related data from the deep branch of the ulnar nerve and the metacarpal bone in the sagittal plane. Each data set of the anatomical results and CT results had been tested by T,P values were more than 0.05. Conclusions There is no significant difference between anatomic and CT observations of deep branch of ulnar nerve, CT observations can be regarded as a clinical reference directly.Anatomic and CT observations can be seen as a guide for clinical work in the diagnosis and treatment of deep branch of ulnar nerve injury. Key words: Deep branch of ulnar nerve; Microanatomy; Imaging; Muscle atrophy; Brachial plexus