A morphometric aspect of the brachial plexus in the periclavicular region.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine the normal morphometric landmarks of the uniting and dividing points of the brachial plexus (BP) in the periclavicular region to provide useful guidance in surgery of BP injuries.


METHODS
A total of 20 brachial plexuses were obtained from 10 adult, formalin-fixed cadavers. Distances were measured on the basis of the Chassaignac tubercle (CT), and the most lateral margin of the BP (LMBP) crossing the superior and inferior edge of the clavicle.


RESULTS
LMBP was located within 25 mm medially from the midpoint in all subjects. In the supraclavicular region, the upper trunk uniting at 21 +/- 7 mm from the CT, separating into divisions at 42 +/- 5 mm from the CT, and dividing at 19 +/- 4 mm from the LMBP crossing the superior edge of the clavicle. In the infraclavicular region, the distance from the inferior edge of the clavicle to the musculocutaneous nerve (MCN) origin was 49 +/- 1 mm, to the median nerve origin 57 +/- 7 mm, and the ulnar nerve origin 48 +/- 6 mm. From the lateral margin of the pectoralis minor to the MCN origin the distance averaged 3.3 +/- 10 mm. Mean diameter of the MCN was 4.3 +/- 1.1 mm (range, 2.5-6.0) in males (n = 6), and 3.1 +/- 1.5 mm (range, 1.6-4.0) in females (n = 4).


CONCLUSIONS
We hope these data will aid in understanding the anatomy of the BP and in planning surgical treatment in BP injuries.
Lee
Jung-Pyo
JP
Department of Neurosurgery, College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University, Seoul, Korea.
Chang
Jae-Chil
JC
Cho
Sung-Jin
SJ
Park
Hyung-Ki
HK
Choi
Soon-Kwan
SK
Bae
Hack-Gun
HG