title: The anatomical variations of the palmar cutaneous branch of the median nerve in Chinese adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In a detailed analysis of the palmar cutaneous branch of median nerve (PCN) in the Chinese adults, we tried to evaluate its anatomic variation and clinical significance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observations were described in all the 60 specimens of the PCN at the wrist.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The PCN was present in all 60 specimens and in most cases (88.3%) it originated from the radial side of the median nerve and the average length from the palmaris longus was 1.4 cm; ulnarward (11.7%); only 5 cases (4.1%) were located at ulnar side and extended beyond the palmaris longus, the average distance being 0.3 cm. Its mean point of origin was 3.2 cm proximal to the distal wrist crease and the variations of the PCN in Lanz classification were: group 0 (31.7%), group 1 (40%), group 2 (15%), group 3 (0%) and group 4 (13.3%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Longitudinal incision located 1 cm on the ulnar side from palmaris longus could avoid injury to the PCN during decompression for carpal tunnel syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Juh-Wen
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: Jia-Fwu
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Shyu
authors.forename: Chih-Chuan
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Teng
authors.forename: Tien-Hua
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Cheng-Hsi
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Yi-Ming
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Shyr
authors.forename: Jaang J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chew-Wun
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Wing-Yui
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Lui
authors.forename: Jiang-Chuan
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D002681:China; D006225:Hand / Q000294:innervation*; D006801:Humans; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D012867:Skin / Q000294:innervation*