Innervation of the medial epicondylar muscles: an anatomic study in 50 cases

Abstract

The median nerve is classically distributed to the medial epicondylar muscles by two branches (superior and inferior) for the pronator teres muscle, a common trunk for the flexor carpi radialis and palmaris longus muscles, and a branch for the flexor digitorum superficialis muscle. The 50 dissections were made by two workers on 30 upper limbs of formolized cadavers and 20 limbs from fresh-frozen cadavers. The innervation of the pronator teres m. was classical in only 26% of cases, and the “normal” pattern for the flexor carpi radialis and palmaris longus mm. was found in only 40% of cases. The innervation of the flexor digitorum superficialis m. was the least subject to variations, a single branch being observed in 68% of cases. We found a solitary medio-ulnar anastomosis of Martin-Gruber to the flexor carpi ulnaris muscle. This study confirmed the great variability of the branches of the median nerve at the elbow, and the importance of identifying them in surgical procedures for transposition of the medial epicondyle.