Anatomy of the posterior antebrachial cutaneous nerve: practical information for the surgeon operating on the lateral aspect of the elbow.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the anatomic relationships of the posterior antebrachial cutaneous nerve (PABCN) to anatomic landmarks on the lateral side of the elbow.


METHODS
The PABCN was explored in 30 cadaveric upper extremities. Distances were noted from easily identifiable structures including the lateral epicondyle, the lateral intermuscular septum, and the radial nerve.


RESULTS
The path of the PABCN follows the spiral groove initially, diverging as the radial nerve pierces the lateral intermuscular septum. The PABCN emerges from the posterior compartment through a hiatus in the deep fascia at a mean of 6.6 cm proximal to the lateral epicondyle and passes a mean of 2.1 cm anterior to the lateral epicondyle.


CONCLUSIONS
The anatomic relationships determined in this study should enable the surgeon to avoid injuring the PABCN when performing surgery in the lateral elbow region.
MacAvoy
Michael C
MC
Permanente Medical Group, South San Francisco, CA, USA. macavoymicheal@yahoo.com
Rust
Stace S
SS
Green
David P
DP
D000368:Aged; D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures; D004210:Dissection; D004550:Elbow / Q000294:innervation* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation* / Q000601:surgery*; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000601:surgery*; D011826:Radial Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000601:surgery; D012016:Reference Values; D012867:Skin / Q000294:innervation*