title: Anatomical study of prefixed versus postfixed brachial plexuses in adult human cadaver.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The brachial plexus is usually formed by the fusion of anterior primary rami of the fifth to eighth cervical and the first thoracic spinal nerves. Variations in the formation of the brachial plexus may occur. Variations in brachial plexus anatomy are important to radiologists, surgeons and anaesthesiologists performing surgical procedures in the neck, axilla and upper limb regions. These variations may lead to deviation from the expected dermatome distribution as well as differences in the motor innervation of muscles of the upper limb. This study is aimed to describe the anatomical variations of brachial plexus in its formation among 20 Ethiopian cadavers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational based study was conducted by using 20 cadavers obtained from the Department of Human Anatomy at University of Gondar, Bahir Dar, Addis Ababa, Hawasa, Hayat Medical College and St Paul Hospital Millennium Medical College. Data analysis was conducted using thematic approaches.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 20 cadavers examined bilaterally for the formation of brachial plexus. Of the 40 sides, 30 sides (75%) were found normal, seven sides (17.5%) prefixed, three sides (7.5%) postfixed and one side of the cadaver lacks cord formation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The brachial plexus formation in most subjects is found to be normal. Among the variants, the numbers of the prefixed brachial plexuses are greater than the postfixed brachial plexuses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Anatomy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Edengenet
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Guday
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Anatomy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Asegedech
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bekele
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Anatomy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Abebe
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Muche
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000715:Anatomy / Q000379:methods*; D001365:Axilla / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000294:innervation* / Q000601:surgery; D001917:Brachial Plexus / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D002102:Cadaver; D005002:Ethiopia; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009333:Neck / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000294:innervation* / Q000601:surgery; D000072177:Radiologists / Q000193:education; D066231:Surgeons / Q000193:education; D013900:Thoracic Nerves / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000601:surgery; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000294:innervation* / Q000601:surgery
keywords: brachial plexuses; cadaver; postfixed; prefixed; variations