Title: Communication between the Branches of Brachial Plexus on Arm: A Cadaveric Study

Authors: Gautam Chandra Das, Amitav Sarma, Santosh Kumar Sahu, Ambath D. Momin, Gunamani Rabha, Chandan Bongshiary, Abdul Alim Ahmed

 DOI:  http://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v4i9.01

Abstract

Aim of The Study: Communications between the branches of brachial plexus are commonly observed and it has a number of clinical and surgical implications. This study will provide information about variations of Brachial plexus and enable us to have better knowledge of the field during surgery to avoid neurological damages.

Material and Method: The study was conducted in the department of Anatomy, NEIGRIHMS, Shillong, Meghalaya in collaboration with Gauhati Medical College, Guwahati and Jorhat Medical College, Jorhat, Assam on 52 upper limbs during the routine dissections for the undergraduate students within the 2013 -14 and 2014 -15 academic year to examine the variations of Brachial plexus in the arm region. In the study, roots, trunks, divisions, cords, formation of nerves, level of origin of branches and variations in all were noted.

Result and Conclusion: In our study we found only four cases (7.7%) of communications between musculocutaneous and median nerves; otherwise we had not observed any variation in the nerves of brachial plexus in the arm region. The lengths of the communicating branches were measured with the help of measuring tape. These types of variations are important for the neurologists as well as orthopaedicians in dealing with patients of nerve entrapment syndromes of the upper limb.

Keywords: brachial plexus, communicating branch, median nerve, musculocutaneous nerve, variation.

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Corresponding Author

Gautam Chandra Das, MD

Senior Resident Doctor, Department of Anatomy

North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS), Shillong, Meghalaya, India

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