Nerve Conduction Study Findings in Ulnar-Median Nerve Intercommunications in the Upper Limb: A Short Review

ABSTRACT

Intercommunications between ulnar and median nerves in the forearm and hand are a commonly encountered phenomenon. Clinicians should be aware of these communications for better diagnosis and management of the patient, as the clinical presentation can often be misleading. Surgeons should be aware of these anastomoses so as to prevent any iatrogenic injury during the course of treatment. Furthermore, these intercommunications can distort the findings on nerve conduction studies, leading to misinterpretation and misdiagnosis. In the forearm region, there are two prominent median-ulnar anastomoses, namely, Martin–Gruber anastomosis (MGA) and reverse MGA (Marinacci anastomosis). Similarly, in the palm too, there are two major anastomoses, namely, Riche–Cannieu anastomosis and Berrittini anastomosis. Here, in this review, we would like to emphasize on electrophysiological findings that can be observed in the presence of such anastomoses.