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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Semin Musculoskelet Radiol 2023; 27(02): 129-135
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1761952
Review Article

Anatomical Variants of the Upper Limb Nerves: Clinical and Preoperative Relevance

Christoph Schwabl 
1   Radiology Department, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
,
Romed Hörmann
2   Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Institute of Clinical and Functional Anatomy, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
,
Carola Johanna Strolz
1   Radiology Department, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
,
Elena Drakonaki
3   Independent MSK Radiology Practice, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
,
Robert Zimmermann
4   Department of Surgery, University Hospital for Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
,
Andrea Sabine Klauser
1   Radiology Department, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
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Abstract

Profound knowledge of nerve variations is essential for clinical practice. It is crucial for interpreting the large variability of a patient's clinical presentation and the different mechanisms of nerve injury. Awareness of nerve variations facilitates surgical safety and efficacy. Clinically significant anatomical variations can be classified into two main groups: variability in the course of the nerve and variability of structures surrounding the nerve. In this review article we focus on the most common nerve variants of the upper extremity and their clinical relevance.

Keywords - nerve variants - median nerve - ulnar nerve - neuropathy


Publication History

Article published online:
03 April 2023

© 2023. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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