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Ultrasonographic reference values for the deep branch of the radial nerve at the arcade of Frohse

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Abstract

Purpose

The deep branch of the radial nerve (DBRN) enters the forearm as it passes under the arcade of Frohse. This is the most common entrapment site of the DBRN in the forearm. In this study, we investigated the ultrasonographic reference values for the diameters and cross-sectional area (CSA) of the DBRN at the level of the arcade of Frohse in a healthy sample of the population.

Methods

Sixty-five healthy Caucasian volunteers (130 nerves) were recruited for this study. The reference range [mean ± 2 standard deviations (SD); 2.5th–97.5th quintiles] and the upper limit of the side-to-side difference were determined. The effects of age, gender, handedness, height, and body mass index were examined.

Results

The mean age was 41.8 ± 11.2 years (range 18–75 years). The mean ± 2SD of the CSA was 0.50–1.42 mm2. The upper limit of the normal side-to-side difference was 0.35 mm2. The differences between males and females and between the dominant and non-dominant arms were not significant. The mean anteroposterior and transverse diameters were 0.83 ± 0.13 and 1.23 ± 0.29 mm, respectively. A significant correlation between the dominant-side CSA and age (r = 0.41; p < 0.001) was observed. The correlations between CSA and height (r = 0.19; p = 0.12) and body mass index (r = 0.22; p = 0.07) were not significant.

Conclusion

The measurements obtained in this study are valuable for examining DBRN pathologies using high-frequency ultrasound. The findings showed that age was associated with the DBRN CSA, while gender, height, and body mass index were not.

SOMMARIO

Scopo

Il ramo profondo del nervo radiale (DBRN) entra nell’avambraccio passando sotto l’arcata di Frohse. Questo è il sito di intrappolamento più comune del DBRN nell’avambraccio. In questo studio abbiamo analizzato i valori di riferimento ecografici per il diametro e l’area della sezione trasversale (CSA) del DBRN a livello dell’arcata di Frohse in un campione di soggetti sani.

Metodi

Sessantacinque volontari sani di razza caucasica (130 nervi) sono stati reclutati per questo studio. L’intervallo di riferimento (media ± 2 deviazioni standard (SD); 2,5° -97,5° quintili) e il limite superiore della differenza fra i due lati sono stati determinati. Gli effetti dell’età, del sesso, della dominanza della mano, della altezza e l’indice di massa corporea sono stati esaminati.

Risultati

L’età media era 41,8 ± 11,2 anni (range: 18-75 anni). La media ± 2 DS di CSA era 0,50-1,42 mm2. Il limite superiore della normale differenza fra i due lati era 0,35 mm2. Le differenze tra maschi e femmine, e tra le braccia dominanti e non dominanti non erano significative. I diametri medi anteroposteriore e trasversale erano 0,83 ± 0,13 mm e 1,23 ± 0,29 mm, rispettivamente. Una correlazione significativa è stata osservata tra CSA dominante ed età (r = 0.41; p < 0.001). Le correlazioni tra CSA e altezza (r = 0,19; p = 0,12) e indice di massa corporea (r = 0,22; p = 0,07) non erano significative.

Conclusioni

Le misurazioni ottenute in questo studio sono utili per eseguire valutazioni di patologie del DBRN tramite l’utilizzo di ultrasuoni ad alta frequenza. L’età ha mostrato una associazione con il DBRN CSA; mentre il sesso, l’altezza e l’indice di massa corporea non erano significativamente associati.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Neuromusculoskeletal Research Center, Firozgar Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Valieasr Square, Tehran, Iran

    Arash Babaei-Ghazani, Peyman Roomizadeh, Golshan Sanaei, Saeideh Najarzadeh-Mehdikhani, Kimia Habibi & Yadollah Kheyrollah

  2. Department of Neurosurgery, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Shahin Nikmanzar

Authors
  1. Arash Babaei-Ghazani
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  2. Peyman Roomizadeh
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  3. Golshan Sanaei
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Correspondence to Peyman Roomizadeh.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Babaei-Ghazani, A., Roomizadeh, P., Sanaei, G. et al. Ultrasonographic reference values for the deep branch of the radial nerve at the arcade of Frohse. J Ultrasound 21, 225–231 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40477-018-0303-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40477-018-0303-8

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