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Morphology of the Posterior Interosseous Nerve with Regard to Entrapment Syndrome

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Abstract

Background

Posterior interosseous nerve (PIN) entrapment syndrome is a rare condition and is predisposed by anatomical factors such as narrow passages through fibrous arcades; whereas, the Arcade of Frohse (AF) is the most common entrapment point. The aim of this study was to evaluate the entrance and exit points of the PIN into the supinator in detail.

Materials and Methods

One hundred unpaired upper extremities underwent dissection. The PIN’s entrance and exit points from the supinator were depicted. The distances between the tip of the radial head (RH) and the AF and the exit point of the PIN from the supinator were measured. Further, it was checked if the borders of the AF and the exit point were muscular, tendinous or a combination of these.

Results

The interval between the PIN’s entry into the supinator and the tip of the RH was at a mean of 28.9 mm. Concerning the border of the AF, in 54 cases a muscular and in 46 specimens a tendinous version could be observed. The interval between the exit point of the PIN and the tip of the RH proved to be at a mean of 64.2 mm. Further, the exit’s border was muscular in 65 specimens and tendinous in 35 cases.

Conclusion

During surgical treatment of the PIN syndrome, it needs to be kept in mind that approximately one-third of all patients might also suffer from entrapment at the exit point of the PIN.

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Funding

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Author notes

  1. Gloria Maria Hohenberger and Angelika Maria Schwarz have contributed equally to the work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 5, 8036, Graz, Austria

    Gloria Maria Hohenberger & Sabine Kuchling

  2. AUVA Trauma Hospital Styria I Graz, Göstinger Straße 24, 8020, Graz, Austria

    Angelika Maria Schwarz

  3. Division of Macroscopic and Clinical Anatomy, Medical University of Graz, Harrachgasse 21, 8010, Graz, Austria

    Peter Grechenig, Ulrike Schwarz & Andreas Heinrich Weiglein

  4. Vienna, Austria

    Marco Johannes Maier

  5. Clinic for Trauma Surgery, Orthopedics and Hand Surgery, Klinikum Wolfsburg, Sauerbruchstraße 7, 38440, Wolfsburg, Germany

    Axel Gänsslen

Authors
  1. Gloria Maria Hohenberger
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  2. Angelika Maria Schwarz
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  3. Peter Grechenig
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  4. Marco Johannes Maier
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  5. Ulrike Schwarz
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  6. Sabine Kuchling
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  7. Axel Gänsslen
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  8. Andreas Heinrich Weiglein
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Contributions

AMS: Protocol development; Data collection; Manuscript writing. GMH: Protocol development; Data collection; Manuscript writing. PG: Data collection; Manuscript editing. MJM: Statistical analysis; Manuscript editing. US: Data collection; Manuscript editing. SK: Data analysis; Manuscript editing. AG: Data analysis; Manuscript editing. AW: Protocol development; Manuscript writing & editing.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gloria Maria Hohenberger.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by the any of the authors.

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Andreas Heinrich Weiglein: Deceased.

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Hohenberger, G.M., Schwarz, A.M., Grechenig, P. et al. Morphology of the Posterior Interosseous Nerve with Regard to Entrapment Syndrome. JOIO 54 (Suppl 1), 188–192 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43465-020-00084-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43465-020-00084-9

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