Persistent Median Artery as an Unusual Finding in the Carpal Tunnel: Its Contribution to the Blood Supply of the Hand and Clinical Significance

Autor: Robert Haładaj, Michał Polguj, Zbigniew Dudkiewicz, Mirosław Topol, Grzegorz Wysiadecki
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2019
Předmět:
Zdroj: Medical Science Monitor : International Medical Journal of Experimental and Clinical Research
ISSN: 1643-3750
1234-1010
Popis: BACKGROUND Knowledge of the variable relation of the persistent median artery (PMA) to the median nerve and its contribution to the formation of the superficial palmar arch is of great clinical significance. This study presents a proposal of specific variables which might be introduced to characterize the PMA in the wrist region. MATERIAL AND METHODS One hundred and twenty-five randomly selected, isolated upper limbs fixed in 10% formalin solution were subjected to anatomical dissection. RESULTS Of the 125 upper limbs, PMA was found in 5 specimens (4% of the total number of limbs). In the carpal tunnel, the artery occupied the anterolateral position (2 cases), the anterior position (2 cases) or the anteromedial position (1 case) in relation to the median nerve. Two types of superficial palmar arches with significant contributions from the PMA were observed in the studied material: complete medio-ulnar arch and an incomplete arch without a connection between the territories of the ulnar and median arteries. The mean ratio of the diameter of the PMA to the diameter of ulnar artery at the level of the wrist was 0.59 (min.=0.38, max=0.83, SD=0.19). CONCLUSIONS Orthopedic and hand surgeons should be aware of the probability of occurrence of the PMA in both planning and conducting surgeries within the wrist region and within the carpal tunnel, as this anomalous vessel might present significant contributions to the arterial blood supply of the hand and might potentially play an important role in the presence of notable clinical symptoms and presentations.
Databáze: OpenAIRE