Kaplan anastomosis of the ulnar nerve: a case report.
BACKGROUND
The sensory innervation of the hand is usually unvarying and anomalies in this area are uncommon.


METHODS
We report the case of a rare ulnar nerve branch called a Kaplan anastomosis, which anastomosed the dorsal cutaneous branch with the ulnar nerve prior to its bifurcation into the superficial and deep ramus.


CONCLUSIONS
Many authors have reported unusual ulnar nerve branches and knowledge of these anatomical variations is important for the interpretation of pain and sensory loss in the area sustained during injuries or surgical procedures. Our finding is the fourth case of a Kaplan anastomosis to be described in the literature.
Paraskevas
Georgios
G
Department of Anatomy, Medical Faculty, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece. g_paraskevas@yahoo.gr
Ch Gekas
Christos
C
Tzaveas
Alexandros
A
Spyridakis
Ioannis
I
Stoltidou
Alexandra
A
Ph Tsitsopoulos
Parmenion
P