Clinical anatomy : official journal of the American Association of Clinical Anatomists & the British Association of Clinical Anatomists
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Innervation of the hand is supplied via the radial, median, and ulnar nerves. A common border of sensory distribution between the ulnar and median nerves is along the fourth digit. However, this sensory distribution may be affected by communication between these two nerves. ⋯ We examined 50 hands taken from 25 adult cadavers. Communicating branches were found in 16% of the hands examined, with rami occurring bilaterally in two specimens. By describing the origin and pathway of this communicating branch, we hope to provide surgeons and clinicians with knowledge that may help avoid iatrogenic injuries.
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Regional anesthesia for breast surgery may require a large amount of local anesthetic solution to provide an adequate blockade of all relevant structures. The purpose of this study was to determine the minimal volume of fluid required to anesthetize all nerves to adequately provide anesthesia for breast surgery. This is an open randomized study. ⋯ The following minimal volumes of fluid were required for complete coloration of the nerves: 2 mL for the supraclavicular nerves; 20 mL for the nerve roots from C(5) to C(7), inclusive, if intraneural injection was avoided; 3 mL per root for the nerve roots from C(8) to T(6), inclusive, for a paravertebral block; and 2 mL per nerve for intercostal nerve blocks at T(4) and lower. With 20 mL of solution at the interscalene level, the roots of C(3) and C(4) were also colored; therefore, a separate injection for the supraclavicular nerves was unnecessary. We conclude that regional anesthesia for complex breast surgery can be achieved with a volume of local anesthetic as low as 41 mL.