title: The effect of upper limb position on ultrasonographic arterial flow to the ulnar nerve.
abstract: We measured the pulsatility indices in the inferior collateral and posterior recurrent ulnar arteries, which supply the ulnar nerve at the elbow, in 38 conscious adults. Compared with a straight 30° abducted arm, elbow flexion to 120° reduced the mean (SD) pulsatility index in the inferior artery and increased the pulsatility index in the posterior artery: from 3.36 (0.86) to 3.04 (0.94), p = 0.001, and from 3.14 (0.81) to 3.64 (1.05), p < 0.0005, respectively. The mean (95% CI) pulsatility index in the inferior artery was unaffected by shoulder abduction to 120°, but it was decreased in the posterior artery in men, from 3.06 (2.76-3.36) to 2.64 (2.34-2.95), but not women, from 3.22 (2.94-3.50) to 3.25 (2.97-3.53), p = 0.01 for men vs women. Researchers should measure arterial pulsatility indices under general anaesthesia and associate them with measures of nerve function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Muirhead
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sharples
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Stringer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004550:Elbow / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012782:Shoulder / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D017535:Ulnar Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology; D014459:Ulnar Nerve / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult