The extraneural and intraneural arterial anatomy of the ulnar nerve at theelbow

The purpose of this report was to investigate the vascular anatomy of the u lnar nerve at the elbow with a technique of combined India ink and latex in jection Followed by nondissection chemical debridement. Twenty-two fresh hu man cadaveric arms were injected with India ink to stain the intraneural mi crocirculation followed immediately by latex injection and chemical debride ment for study of the extraneural vascularization. After clearing with a mo dified Spalteholtz technique, the intraneural blood supply was studied in 1 0 of the specimens. The findings demonstrated a consistent but segmental ex traneural and intraneural vascular supply from the superior ulnar collatera l, inferior ulnar collateral, and-posterior ulnar recurrent arteries. No id entifiable direct anastomosis was seen between the superior ulnar collatera l and posterior ulnar recurrent arteries ii 20 of 22 arms. The inferior uln ar collateral artery provided; the only direct vascularization to the nerve in the region just proximal to the cubital tunnel. Although the clinical i mportance of maintaining specific arterial sources to the ulnar nerve has n ot been determined, these anatomic Findings indicate that the arterial cont ribution from the inferior ulnar collateral artery may be more important th an appreciated previously.