A New Nerve Conduction Technique of the Deep Branch of the Ulnar Nerve

J Korean Assoc EMG Electrodiagn Med 2007;9(1):18-23.
Published online May 10, 2007.

Abstract

Objective: It is hard to perform conduction study for the deep branch of the ulnar nerve, because there is no guideline for the anatomical course of the deep branch of the ulnar nerve. The purpose of this study is to propose a new nerve conduction technique of the deep branch of the ulnar nerve, based on its anatomical course in 5 Korean adult cadavers. Methods: The deep branch of the ulnar nerve turns at an obtuse angle at 0.48 point of an imaginary line drawn from the radial side of pisiform bone to the head of 4th metacarpal bone and goes straight into first dorsal interosseous muscle. Based on this anatomic course, the deep branch of the ulnar nerve conduction study was performed at the first dorsal interosseous muscle in 55 Korean adults. Results: The mean distal motor latency and amplitude of compound muscle action potential recorded at first dorsal interosseous muscle were 3.39±0.25 ms and 14.48±2.81 mV, respectively. Conclusion: We propose a new ulnar nerve conduction technique of the deep branch and hope this technique help to detect distal ulnar neuropathy.

Key Words: Distal ulnar nerve, Deep branch of the ulnar nerve, Nerve conduction study