Accomplishments
Additional slip of Flexor carpi ulnaris associated with variant high division of Ulnar nerve in forearm
- Abstract
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During routine dissection, of the right upper limb of a 70 year old donated embalmed male cadaver in the Department of Anatomy, Grant Medical College & Sir J. J. Group of Hospitals, Byculla, Mumbai, we observed an additional muscle slip of flexor carpi ulnaris associated with anomalous high division of dorsal branch of ulnar nerve. The additional belly originated from the lower part of the flexor carpi ulnaris muscle and crossed ulnar nerve, ulnar vessels and median nerve. The additional belly merged with the flexor retinaculum. The ulnar nerve divided into the terminal branches in the upper part of the forearm. However, the distribution of the terminal branches of ulnar nerve was normal in palm. The arterial pattern in the forearm was normal. The variations were unilateral and the left upper limb was normal. The photographs of the additional muscle slip of flexor carpi ulnaris associated with anomalous high division of dorsal branch of ulnar nerve were taken for proper documentation. The awareness of additional muscle slip of flexor carpi ulnaris associated with anomalous high division of dorsal branch of ulnar nerve is clinically important for surgeons dealing with entrapment or compressive neuropathies, orthopaedicians operating on the fractures of radius or ulna or both and anaesthetist performing pain management therapies on the upper limb. These variations are compared with the earlier data & it is concluded that variations in branching pattern of nerves are a rule rather than exception. A lack of knowledge of such type of variations with different patterns might complicate surgical repair and may cause ineffective nerve blockade.