Article

OBJECTIVE: To identify extensor carpi radialis longus (ECRL) motor nerve
coordinates in relation to anatomic surface landmarks. DESIGN: Descriptive study.
SETTING: Anatomy institute of a school of medicine in Paris, France. CADAVERS:
Fresh adult cadaver upper limbs (N=20). INTERVENTION: Anatomic dissection of
upper limbs. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Three measurements (mm) were taken of the
position of the ECRL motor branch: the distance between the lateral epicondyle
and the emergence of the ECRL branch along the forearm axis, the branch depth,
and the ratio between the distance corresponding to the nerve depth and the
intercondylar distance. RESULTS: The radial nerves of 4 men and 6 women (age
range 59-80 y) were identified between the brachioradialis and the ECRL and
traced proximally to the lateral epicondyle. The injection point was between the
lateral epicondyle posteriorly and the wrist extensor group anteriorly. Direction
was perpendicular to the axis of the forearm. Mean depth was 35.6 mm (minimal
value: 24.0; maximal value: 58.0; SD=9 mm). Ratio between nerve depth and
intercondylar distance was .46 (.37; .53+/-.05). CONCLUSIONS: The ECRL motor
nerve branch is easy to reach using specified landmarks. Selective motor nerve
block of the ECRL branch should be considered in the clinical assessment to test
the capacity of the extensor carpi radialis brevis to extend the wrist alone and
to assess the command and overactivity of antagonists before surgery.
CI - Copyright (c) 2012 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS