Transfer of the lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve to the dorsal branch of the ulnar nerve without nerve graft in case of lower brachial plexus injuries: Anatomical and feasibility study

Abstract

In the context of lower (C8–T1) brachial plexus injury, transfer of the lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve (LABCN) to the dorsal branch of the ulnar nerve (DBUN) with an interposed sural nerve graft has been proposed to restore sensitivity on the ulnar side of the hand. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of performing this transfer directly – without interposition of a nerve graft – by intraneural dissection of the DBUN. An anatomical study was performed with 20 upper limbs from adult human cadavers. The LABCN and the DBUN were dissected. The LABCN emerged from the lateral side of the biceps brachii muscle at an average of 2.6±0.4cm from the interepicondylar line and was 13.5±2.6cm long, on average. The DBUN arose from the ulnar nerve 8.2±1.6cm from the styloid process of the ulna. The maximum length of DBUN intraneural dissection relative to the ulnar nerve was 7.5±2.1cm, on average. The LABCN could be transferred to the DBUN in a tension-free manner with end-to-end suturing. Intraneural dissection of the DBUN allows LABCN nerve transfer without interposition of a graft.