title: Topographical anatomy of the dorsal branch of the ulnar nerve and artery: a cadaver study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The surgical anatomy of the dorsal branch of the ulnar nerve and artery on the dorsal aspect of the hand is important in design of neurocutaneous flaps for reconstructive surgery and serves as a donor site for nerve grafts. In this study, the course, location, and diameter of the dorsal branches of the ulnar nerve and artery were studied from anatomical and reconstructive perspectives.
  
  
  METHODS
  Upper limbs of 14 (7 left and 7 right) and 22 formalin-preserved adult cadavers (15 left and 7 right) were dissected in two different centers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The diameters of the ulnar nerve, artery, and their dorsal branches were measured at selected reference points. The distances to specific anatomical landmarks were also measured, during their courses from the proximal forearm towards the middle phalanges of the 4th and 5th fingers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data may facilitate the design of neurocutaneous flaps nourished from the dorsal branches of the ulnar nerve and artery, and may aid in the harvesting of nerve grafts from the dorsal branch of the ulnar nerve, and provide a safe surgical approach to the dorsum of the hand.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Kirikkale University, Kirikkale, Turkey. tarikmd@gmail.com
authors.forename: Tarik
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cavusoglu
authors.forename: Hilmi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ozden
authors.forename: Ayhan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Comert
authors.forename: Ilker
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Yazici
authors.forename: Halil Ibrahim
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Acar
authors.forename: Ali Teoman
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Tellioglu
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tekdemir
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002102:Cadaver; D005260:Female; D005542:Forearm / Q000098:blood supply / Q000294:innervation; D006225:Hand / Q000098:blood supply / Q000294:innervation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017535:Ulnar Artery / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D014459:Ulnar Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology*