Motor Branch of Extensor Carpi Radialis Longus: Anatomic Localization

Publication year: 2012
Source:Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Volume 93, Issue 12

François Genet, Katell Autret, Alexis Schnitzler, Christine Lautridou, Benjamin Bernuz, Philippe Denormandie, Yves Allieu, Bernard Parratte

Genet F, Autret K, Schnitzler A, Lautridou C, Bernuz B, Denormandie P, Allieu Y, Parratte B. Motor branch of extensor carpi radialis longus: anatomic localization. Objective To identify extensor carpi radialis longus (ECRL) motor nerve coordinates in relation to anatomic surface landmarks. Design Descriptive study. Setting Anatomy institute of a school of medicine in Paris, France. Cadavers Fresh adult cadaver upper limbs (N=20). Intervention Anatomic dissection of upper limbs. Main Outcome Measures Three measurements (mm) were taken of the position of the ECRL motor branch: the distance between the lateral epicondyle and the emergence of the ECRL branch along the forearm axis, the branch depth, and the ratio between the distance corresponding to the nerve depth and the intercondylar distance. Results The radial nerves of 4 men and 6 women (age range 59–80y) were identified between the brachioradialis and the ECRL and traced proximally to the lateral epicondyle. The injection point was between the lateral epicondyle posteriorly and the wrist extensor group anteriorly. Direction was perpendicular to the axis of the forearm. Mean depth was 35.6mm (minimal value: 24.0; maximal value: 58.0; SD=9mm). Ratio between nerve depth and intercondylar distance was .46 (.37; .53±.05). Conclusions The ECRL motor nerve branch is easy to reach using specified landmarks. Selective motor nerve block of the ECRL branch should be considered in the clinical assessment to test the capacity of the extensor carpi radialis brevis to extend the wrist alone and to assess the command and overactivity of antagonists before surgery.

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