Measurement of the Radial Nerve Danger Zone in Filipino Adults: A Cadaveric Study

Introduction: The radial nerve danger zone (RNDZ) is an important anatomic consideration to anticipate or prevent injury in trauma assessment or surgical fixation. No published estimate currently exists for Filipinos. In this study, we sought to provide a local estimate and explore potential predictors of this anatomic region in Filipino adult cadavers.

Materials and methods: Posterior dissection to expose and measure the radial nerve, from the lateral epicondyle to the lateral intermuscular septum, was performed in 60 upper limbs from 30 formalin-preserved cadavers in the laboratory of the Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila. Univariate and multivariate linear regression modelling was performed with RNDZ as the dependent variable and age, sex, height and humeral length as potential independent variables individually and in combinations.

Results: The mean radial nerve length from the lateral epicondyle to the lateral intermuscular septum was estimated at 10.6 cm (95% confidence interval: 10.3 cm, 10.9cm). Height and humeral length were statistically significant univariate predictors in female cadavers, while only height was significant in male cadavers. In addition, all multivariate regression models were statistically significant and accounted for more than 57% of the variability in female RNDZ estimates. In comparison, only models that included height and age were statistically significant predictors of RNDZ and accounted for at most 22% of the variability of the estimate in males.

Conclusion: The estimated length of the radial nerve danger zone generated in this study should be strongly considered over other published estimates in surgical fixation procedures performed in adult Filipinos.