Axillary nerve position in the anterosuperior approach of the shoulder: a cadaveric study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the distance between the axillary nerve and the antero-lateral (AL) edge of the acromion, its anatomical variability and relationship to humeral length and body height.


METHODS
Twenty-two shoulders were dissected. The anterosuperior (AS) approach was used; the deltoid was detached from the acromion and the distance between the AL portion and the axillary nerve was measured and submitted to statistical analysis.


RESULTS
The distance varied from 4.3 to 6.4 cm (average 5.32 ± 0.60 cm). The axillary nerve distance increased as the humeral size (p<0.05) and the height of each cadaver increased. However, the correlation with the specimens height was not significant (p=0.24).


CONCLUSIONS
The distance between the acromion and the axillary nerve on the AS approach was 5.32 ± 0.60 cm in both shoulders, and increasing the humeral length there is also an increase in the axillary nerve distance. Level of Evidence IV, Case Series - Anatomic Study.
Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, Santo André, SP, Brazil, Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, Santo André, SP, Brazil.
Roberto Yukio
RY
Ikemoto
Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, Santo André, SP, Brazil, Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, Santo André, SP, Brazil.
Luis Gustavo Prata
LG
Nascimento
Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, Santo André, SP, Brazil, Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, Santo André, SP, Brazil.
Rogerio Serpone
RS
Bueno
Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, Santo André, SP, Brazil, Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, Santo André, SP, Brazil.
Luiz Henrique Oliveira
LH
Almeida
Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, Santo André, SP, Brazil, Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, Santo André, SP, Brazil.
Eric
E
Strose
Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, Santo André, SP, Brazil, Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, Santo André, SP, Brazil.
Joel
J
Murachovsky
Anatomy, regional; Cadaver; Humerus; Shoulder/surgery