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Anatomical study of the articular branch of the lateral pectoral nerve to the shoulder joint

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Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to document the distribution of the articular branch of the lateral pectoral nerve (LPN) to the shoulder and to identify a suitable point for its blockade.

Methods

This study involved the dissection of 43 shoulders of 22 unembalmed cadavers (6 male and 16 female) to identify the LPN and its articular branch to the shoulder. To identify the suitable anatomical point for blocking the articular branch of the LPN, several anatomical landmarks around the shoulder were measured.

Results

The articular branch of the LPN to the shoulder was present in 29 of 43 cases (67.4 %). The appropriate point to block the articular branch of the LPN was identified at a mean distance of 1.5 cm below the clavicle, on the line connecting the closest points between the clavicle and the coracoid process, and at a mean depth of 1.0 cm from the skin.

Conclusion

The articular branch of the LPN to the shoulder, as well as the muscular and cutaneous branches of the LPN, covers a portion of the shoulder joint with suprascapular and axillary nerves. Surgeons might consider a peripheral block of the suprascapular, axillary, and LPNs to provide maximum block coverage after shoulder joint surgery.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Thomas Sungmin Cho for assistance with this research project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, Catholic Institute for Applied Anatomy, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea

    Young-Seok Nam & In-Beom Kim

  2. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Daejeon St. Mary’s Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, 520-2, Deahung-Dong, Joong-Ku, Daejeon, 302-803, South Korea

    Karnav Panchal, Jong-Hun Ji, Min-Gyu Park & Sung-Ryeoll Park

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  1. Young-Seok Nam
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  2. Karnav Panchal
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Correspondence to Jong-Hun Ji.

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Nam, YS., Panchal, K., Kim, IB. et al. Anatomical study of the articular branch of the lateral pectoral nerve to the shoulder joint. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 24, 3820–3827 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-015-3703-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-015-3703-8

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