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The relation of sulcus nervi radialis with the fracture line of humerus fracture and radial nerve injury

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Abstract

Purpose

Radial nerve is closely in contact with the bone in sulcus nervi radialis (SNR). Location of SNR shows ethnic differences. Radial nerve is a big problem in humerus fractures and its surgery. In this study, we aimed to examine if humerus fractures of this region increases the probability of radial nerve injury.

Methods

Total length of humerus and the distance of SNR to proximal and distal anatomical points were measured on 57 human dry cadaver bones. The mean values of these data were calculated. The 58 cases of treated humerus fractures in our orthopedics department, whose radiological film techniques were available, were involved in the study and their measurements were made at the same anatomic reference points, retrospectively. Proximal and distal safe zones to total length ratios of both groups were determined. The ratios of the cases were compared with the confidence intervals of dry bones. Location of the fracture line according to SNR and the relationship between radial nerve injury and this location were evaluated.

Results

Sulcus nervi radialis region was located at the middle of humerus. Of 24 cases which had radial nerve injury, only nine cases had fracture of SNR region. Of the 34 cases which had no radial nerve injury, 16 had fracture of SNR region.

Conclusions

As a result; radial nerve injury rate was 37.5% for the fractures of SNR region and it was higher compared to other studies. We concluded that the fractures of SNR region do not increase the risk of radial nerve injury.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Meselik, 26480, Eskisehir, Turkey

    Hilmi Ozden, Gul Guven, Kismet Bulbul & Hakan Ay

  2. Department of Orthopedics, Faculty of Medicine, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Meselik, 26480, Eskisehir, Turkey

    Ahmet Demir & Akin Turgut

  3. Department of Statistics, Faculty of Science and Literature, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, 26480, Eskisehir, Turkey

    Zeki Yildiz

Authors
  1. Hilmi Ozden
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  2. Ahmet Demir
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  3. Gul Guven
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  4. Zeki Yildiz
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  5. Akin Turgut
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  6. Kismet Bulbul
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  7. Hakan Ay
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Correspondence to Hilmi Ozden.

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Ozden, H., Demir, A., Guven, G. et al. The relation of sulcus nervi radialis with the fracture line of humerus fracture and radial nerve injury. Surg Radiol Anat 31, 283–287 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-008-0444-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-008-0444-0

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