Anatomical Variation of a Communicating Branch between the Musculocutaneous and the Median Nerve: A Case Report.

OBJECTIVE The aim of our paper is to depict an anatomical variation of the brachial plexus, concerning a communicating branch between the median and the musculocutaneous nerve and its clinical significance. Anatomical variations of the brachial plexus and especially those of the musculocutaneous nerve are quite common. Awareness of these variations is of paramount importance in clinical practice, mainly in achieving best results in minimal invasive or surgical procedures. CASE REPORT After dissection in upper extremities in a 89-year-old male cadaver, a communicating branch between the median and the musculocutaneous nerve was found. This communicating branch was formed before the musculocutaneous nerve perforated the coracobrachialis muscle. It also derived from the level of the ansa medianis and its course was of an approximately 2cm length. CONCLUSION The clinical significance of our study is the entrapment of the musculocutaneous nerve that may cause clinical findings similar to those of the carpal tunnel syndrome.