title: Iatrogenic Injury to the Median Nerve During Palmaris Longus Harvest: An Overview of Safe Harvesting Techniques.
abstract: Background:A rare and disastrous complication of harvesting a tendon graft is the misidentification of the median nerve for the palmaris longus.Methods:The authors report a referred case in which the median nerve was harvested as a free tendon graft.Results:Few reports of this complication are found in the literature despite the frequency of palmaris longus tendon grafting and the proximity of the palmaris tendon to the median nerve. Given the obvious medicolegal implications, the true incidence of this complication is difficult to assess.Discussion:Safe harvesting of the palmaris longus mandates a thorough understanding of the relevant anatomy, in particular the proper differentiation between nerve and tendon and recognition of when the palmaris longus tendon is absent. Techniques to facilitate proper identification of the palmaris longus are outlined.
authors.affiliation: University of Louisville, KY, USA.
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Choo
authors.affiliation: University of Louisville, KY, USA.
authors.forename: Bradon J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Wilhelmi
authors.affiliation: Veterans Affairs Hospital, Louisville, KY, USA.
authors.forename: Morton L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Kasdan
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D008297:Male; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000293:injuries*; D019300:Medical Errors; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D013709:Tendon Transfer; D013710:Tendons / Q000002:abnormalities*; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods
keywords: iatrogenic nerve injury; median nerve anatomy; median nerve injury; palmaris longus anatomy; safe techniques for palmaris longus harvest