title: Dorsal cutaneous innervation of the hand with respect to anatomical landmarks: is there a safe zone?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we aimed to define the borders of the triangular area between the radial and dorsal nerves on the dorsum of the hand and to determine its dimensions using measurements between anatomic landmarks.
  
  
  METHODS
  We statistically analyzed the relation between the distance from Lister's tubercle to the blending point of the central branches of radial and ulnar nerves and the distance between styloids on 14 hands of seven adult human cadavers (5 males, 2 females). The distances of nerve branches to vertical lines drown distally from both styloid processes were also compared with interstyloid distances to help in presuming the course of these nerves.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No statistical constant correlation was determined between the measurements. Neither the height of the triangular area nor the courses of both nerves seemed to be quantitatively related to any measurements between the anatomical landmarks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Variability in these measurements in our study indicates that there is no surgical safe zone on the dorsum of the hand.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Medical Faculty of Kırıkkale University, 71100 Kırıkkale, Turkey. drmeric@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Meriç
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cırpar
authors.forename: Ali Fırat
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Esmer
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Türker
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yalçınozan
mesh_terms: D002102:Cadaver; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000294:innervation*; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011826:Radial Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D014459:Ulnar Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology