Ulnar nerve dimensions at entrapment sites in cadavers

Area of Science:

• Anatomy
• Neurology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Ulnar neuropathy can result from nerve compression at various anatomical sites.
• High-resolution imaging techniques like Ultrasonography (USG) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) can diagnose ulnar nerve compression.
• Limited data exists on ulnar nerve cross-sectional area (CSA) variations in the Indian population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the baseline cross-sectional area (CSA) of the ulnar nerve.
• To evaluate CSA measurements at specific anatomical sites in the East Indian population.
• To provide reference values for diagnosing ulnar neuropathy.

Main Methods:

• The cross-sectional area (CSA) of the ulnar nerve was measured in 64 formalin-fixed cadaveric upper limbs.
• Measurements were taken at predefined anatomical locations.
• Statistical analysis was performed using Microsoft Excel and Stata 12.

Main Results:

• The average ulnar nerve CSA was 4.77 ± 2.21 mm² at the medial epicondyle and 2.21 ± 0.86 mm² at the wrist.
• Higher CSA values were observed in males compared to females.
• Distances of ulnar nerve branch points from bony landmarks were also recorded.

Conclusions:

• This study provides essential baseline ulnar nerve CSA data for the East Indian population.
• These reference values can assist clinicians in diagnosing ulnar neuropathy.
• Understanding anatomical variations is crucial for effective clinical diagnosis.