title: Ultrasound examination of peripheral nerves in the forearm.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We examined in a volunteer population whether nerves in the forearm could be seen consistently using ultrasound imaging and whether this new information could have implications for the way we perform regional anesthesia of the median, radial, and ulnar nerves.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eleven volunteers underwent ultrasound examination of both forearms. The median, ulnar, and radial nerves were followed and images were obtained at the elbow, proximal forearm, mid forearm, distal forearm and wrist levels. In addition the radial nerve was followed proximally to a point 5 cm above the elbow. Images were compared for consistency of location of the nerves and depth from skin and width was calculated for each nerve at each level.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Anatomy of each nerve was consistent except for one forearm where the median nerve was lateral to the brachial artery at the elbow and one forearm where a superficial ulnar artery only joined the ulnar nerve at the wrist. A convenient location for blockade of both median and ulnar nerves is the midforearm combining ease of visualization, ability to block all terminal branches and minimal potential for vascular injury. The radial nerve is seen most easily at the elbow although blockade of the superficial radial nerve may spare radial motor function.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nerves in the forearm are consistently located using ultrasound. Further confirmation in clinical practice is required.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. colin.mccartney@utoronto.ca
authors.forename: Colin J L
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: McCartney
authors.forename: Daquan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Corina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Constantinescu
authors.forename: Sherif
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abbas
authors.forename: Vincent W S
authors.initials: VW
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005542:Forearm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000294:innervation*; D006801:Humans; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000379:methods; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011826:Radial Nerve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012016:Reference Values; D012867:Skin / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014459:Ulnar Nerve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014953:Wrist / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging