title: High-resolution ultrasound accurately identifies the medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve at the midarm level: a clinical anatomic study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present prospective volunteer study was designed to describe a technique for ultrasound identification of the medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve (MACN) and a technique for ultrasound-guided blockade of this sensory nerve of the upper limb.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty male volunteers were included in this study. After cross-sectional ultrasound identification of the MACN at the upper arm, where it is closely adjacent to the basilic vein, a selective blockade via an in-plane needle guidance technique was performed with 0.3 mL of mepivacaine 1.5% under direct ultrasound visualization. Sensory loss to pinprick at the upper extremity was evaluated and compared with the contralateral side.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Constant ultrasound visualization of the MACN adjacent to the basilic vein at the upper arm level was possible in all cases. Blockade of the MACN under direct visualization was associated with a 100% success rate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this investigation enable selective blockade of the MACN via ultrasound. Moreover, our data provide insight regarding the specific anatomic course and the integrity of this sensory nerve, which could be used for plastic and reconstructive surgical indications and for diagnosis of nerve injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thallaj
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marhofer
authors.forename: Stephan C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Kettner
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al-Majed
authors.forename: Abdulaziz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Ahaideb
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Moriggl
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001132:Arm / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000294:innervation; D001917:Brachial Plexus / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012867:Skin / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000294:innervation*; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult