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Hand size affects branching of the deep ulnar nerve and deep palmar arch

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Abstract

Purpose

Understanding the anatomy of the deep neurovascular structures of the hand is essential in surgical planning. There is a lack of literature regarding hand size and its influence in branching variation and the distances between branches of various neurovascular structures. Our study quantifies the variation in branching distances of the deep ulnar nerve and deep palmar arch branches.

Methods

Twenty-five fresh-frozen cadaveric hands were dissected. Each branch of the deep ulnar nerve and deep palmar arch was identified. The distance from the most distal portion of the pisiform to the proximal aspect of the branch was measured. The relationship between the length of the third metacarpal and the distance of each branch from the pisiform was examined.

Results

There was no relationship between branching differences in the deep ulnar nerve and the length of the third metacarpal. There was a significant association between the length of the third metacarpal and the second, third, and fourth branches of the deep palmar arch (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Our study found a significant association between the branching distances of the second, third, and fourth branches of the deep palmar arch and hand size as measured by the length of the third metacarpal.

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None.

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Funding

No funding was received for this study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Illinois, Chicago, 835S Wolcott Ave, Suite E290, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA

    Mark D. Orland, Ye Lin, Julio C. Castillo Tafur, Abhishek Deshpande, Lucas Paladino, Christian J. Poulos, Anshum Sood, James M. Kerns & Mark H. Gonzalez

Authors
  1. Mark D. Orland
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  2. Ye Lin
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  3. Julio C. Castillo Tafur
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  4. Abhishek Deshpande
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  5. Lucas Paladino
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  6. Christian J. Poulos
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  7. Anshum Sood
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  8. James M. Kerns
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  9. Mark H. Gonzalez
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Contributions

MDO: data collection, data analysis. YL: protocol development, data collection, data analysis, manuscript writing. JCT: protocol development, data collection, data analysis. AD: manuscript writing/editing. LP: manuscript writing/editing. CP: data collection, data analysis. AS: project development, protocol development, manuscript writing. JK: manuscript writing/editing. MHG: project development, protocol development.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Abhishek Deshpande.

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Competing interest

The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interest to disclose.

Ethical approval

The data for this study utilized human tissue that was procured via Science Care, which provides de-identified samples. The Science Care protocols are in accordance with the ethical standards of our institution and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Orland, M.D., Lin, Y., Castillo Tafur, J.C. et al. Hand size affects branching of the deep ulnar nerve and deep palmar arch. Surg Radiol Anat 44, 1501–1505 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-022-03043-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-022-03043-1

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