• Juh-Wen Cheung, Jia-Fwu Shyu, Chih-Chuan Teng, Tien-Hua Chen, Cheng-Hsi Su, Yi-Ming Shyr, Jaang J Wang, Chew-Wun Wu, Wing-Yui Lui, and Jiang-Chuan Liu.
• Department of Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
• J Chin Med Assoc. 2004 Jan 1; 67 (1): 27-31.

BackgroundIn a detailed analysis of the palmar cutaneous branch of median nerve (PCN) in the Chinese adults, we tried to evaluate its anatomic variation and clinical significance.MethodsObservations were described in all the 60 specimens of the PCN at the wrist.ResultsThe PCN was present in all 60 specimens and in most cases (88.3%) it originated from the radial side of the median nerve and the average length from the palmaris longus was 1.4 cm; ulnarward (11.7%); only 5 cases (4.1%) were located at ulnar side and extended beyond the palmaris longus, the average distance being 0.3 cm. Its mean point of origin was 3.2 cm proximal to the distal wrist crease and the variations of the PCN in Lanz classification were: group 0 (31.7%), group 1 (40%), group 2 (15%), group 3 (0%) and group 4 (13.3%).ConclusionsLongitudinal incision located 1 cm on the ulnar side from palmaris longus could avoid injury to the PCN during decompression for carpal tunnel syndrome.

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