ANASTOMOSIS ENTRE LA RAMA PROFUNDA DEL NERVIO CUBITAL Y EL NERVIO MEDIANO EN LA MANO.

Introduction: The Riche-Cannieu anastomosis (RCA) is an anatomic variation formed between the thenar branch of the median nerve and the deep branch of the ulnar nerve. Its anatomical description is of great interest because of its clinical and electromyographic relevance. Due to the RCA, there are various types of hand motor innervation. Materials and Methods: Thirty eight hands from 19 corpses (formolized in a 5% solution) whose ages ranged from 50 to 70 years old were dissected. Conventional instruments and techniques were used. Results: The pathway of the deep branch of the ulnar nerve did not show variations and ended at the adductor pollicis muscle. In 86.84% of the cases a branch emerged there and anastomosed the median nerve by different modalities. A nervous arcade of considerable important size was observed between the ulnar and median nerve in 50% of the anastomosis and it gave motor branches for the thenar muscles. Discussion: It is of great importance to learn about this anastomosis because of the possibility of median or ulnar nerve injuries; it may cause clinical, surgical or electromyographic confusion. Due to its high frequency, it was regarded as a normal connection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]