A Cadaveric Case Report on the Variant Division of Radial Nerve in the Lower Part of the Arm.

During routine dissection, of the right upper limb of a 70 years old donated embalmed male cadaver in the Department of Anatomy, K.J. Somaiya Medical College, Sion, Mumbai, India, we observed the variant division of radial nerve in the lower part of the arm. In the present case the radial nerve divides into three branches, superficial branch of radial nerve i.e. the radial nerve proper, deep branch of the radial nerve i.e. posterior interosseous nerve and nerve to the extensor carpi radialis brevis muscle. The nerve supply to the extensor carpi radialis brevis muscle was from the terminal branch of the radial nerve. The finding was noted after thorough and meticulous dissection of the upper limbs of both sides. The arterial pattern of upper limb were also observed. The variation was unilateral. The left upper limb was normal. The photographs of the variations were taken for proper documentation.
Conclusions
The awareness of the nerve supply to extensor carpi radialis brevis from the terminal branch of radial nerve is clinically important for surgeons dealing with entrapment or compressive neuropathies, orthopaedicians operating on the fractures of the lower end of the humerus, anaesthetist performing pain management therapies on the upper limb and physiotherapist doing electromyography for evaluating and recording the electrical activity produced by skeletal muscles. A lack of knowledge of such type of variations might complicate surgical repair