Keywords
neural conduction - median nerve - ulnar nerve - hand/innervation
Introduction
Riché-Cannieu anastomosis (RCA) is a neural connection between the deep branch of
the ulnar nerve and branches of the median nerve in the thenar region. Axons derived
from these two nerves may intersect and alter the motor innervation of the intrinsic
muscles of the hand. The presence of such anastomoses may cause risk of iatrogenic
injury during surgical procedures, and also make it difficult to interpret electrophysiological
studies in the diagnosis of neuropathies.[1] These anatomical variations must be differentiated from incomplete nerve lesions,
since, clinically, the innervation variations of these small muscles are very important
in the sense that, even with a complete lesion of the median or ulnar nerves, some
of these muscles may or may not be paralyzed, and this may lead to the erroneous conclusion
that the nerve did not undergo a complete lesion.[2] Carpal tunnel syndrome, in particular, has been associated with exacerbated or diminished
symptoms in the presence of these anastomoses.[3]
[4] There are three other types of anomalous neural connections between the medial and
ulnar nerves in the upper limb: Martin-Gruber anastomosis (in the forearm, it communicates
nerve fibers originating from the median nerve that go to the ulnar nerve), Marinacci
anastomosis (also called reverse anastomosis of Martin-Gruber) and Berrettini anastomosis
(communication between the common digital nerves of the ulnar and median nerves on
the palmar surface of the hand).
Multiple aberrant connections between the median and ulnar nerves may occur in different
combinations.[5]
The RCA was first described by Riché[6] and Cannieu[7] as a palmar anastomosis between the recurrent branch of the median nerve and the
deep branch of the ulnar nerve. Although it is generally believed to be present in
a large part of the population, the defined parameters of anastomosis are difficult
to classify and, thus, not very well described.[8]
The cause, nature, incidence, and direction of the nerve fibers that make up the RCA
is relatively unknown. It is believed that it can occur by an aberrant development
in the early stage of embryogenesis.[9] Due to the similarity with Martin-Gruber anastomosis, a genetic basis was proposed
for the development of RCA. Boland et al[9] considered it a family tendency for an autosomal dominant inheritance, and reported
the case of a 21-year-old man whose father and brother also had the anastomosis.
The variety of clinical aspects observed in the isolated lesions of the median and
ulnar nerves is not in agreement with the classic pattern of innervation of the muscles
of the region of the thenar, as described in the classic treatises of anatomy. In
the literature, many divergences are presented, which are accentuated when the authors
use different methods of investigation, that is, electromyography, clinical examination,
selective anesthetic block of the nerves, or anatomical dissections. Clinical reports
and electromyographic studies suggest that the thenar muscles (near the anastomosis)
may receive double innervation of the medial and ulnar nerves. The aim of the present
study was to define the structure, function, incidence of RCA, and its clinical implications.
Materials and Methods
A total of 60y hands of 30 fresh adult cadavers were dissected between 1979 and 1982,
and 20 hands between 2011 and 2015, totaling 80 hands. In all cases, both hands were
studied. The dissection was performed using a magnifying glass (magnification of 2.5
times), and in the final phase, using a microscope (magnification of 10 to 16 times),
to enable the dissection with special attention to the incidence of RCA. The age ranged
from 17 to 68 years, and the sex distribution was of 36 men and 4 women. An initial
pilot study, which consisted of the dissection of four hands of two fresh cadavers,
was conducted so that the authors would become familiar with the anatomy of the palmar
region of the hand, and it was not included in the present work. We investigated the
anastomosis between the deep branch of the ulnar nerve and branches of the median
nerve through the following technique of dissection: an incision proximal to the wrist
fold was made in the interval between the radial flexor muscles of the carpus and
the long palmar, extended distally in the palm of the hand. The palmar skin, the subcutaneous
tissue and the palmar fascia were removed. The superficial and deep flexor tendons
were sectioned 2 cm proximally to the flexor retinaculum and flexed distally. The
median nerve was identified proximally to the transverse carpus ligament, the ligament
was sectioned longitudinally on its ulnar side (damage to the thenar motor branch
of the median nerve was avoided), and its branches were dissected distally. The ulnar
nerve was also identified in the wrist, proximally to the Guyon canal, and its deep
motor branch was followed distally until its communication with branches of the median
nerve. The dissection was then performed using a microscope, with a 10 to 16-fold
magnification and microsurgical tweezers. The terminal fascicles of these two nerves
were dissected on the surface of these muscles or out of the thickness of their muscular
mass, and the origin of the fascicles that penetrated the muscular bellies was observed,
as well as the presence of a connection between them. Schematic drawings of the pieces
were done, which were systematically photographed. The study was approved by the Ethics
in Research Committee of Faculdade de Ciências Médicas e da Saúde, Pontifícia Universidade
Católica de São Paulo (Committee Opinion no. 2.207.267).
Results
The RCA was identified in all of the 80 dissected hands (100%). In four hands, intra-
and extramuscular communication was registered ([Fig. 1]). Extramuscular RCA was identified in 57 hands ([Fig. 2]
[3]
[4]), and intramuscular RCA, in 19 hands ([Fig. 5]) ([Table 1]). In every hand, we observed that the anastomotic branch of the ulnar nerve always
originated from its deep branch, after penetrating between the oblique and transverse
heads of the adductor muscle of the thumb ([Fig. 1] e [3]).The anastomotic component of the median nerve was represented by fascicles originating
from the recurrent branch of the median nerve in 35 observations ([Fig. 4]). In 24 hands, the anastomotic fascicles originated from an isolated branch of the
main trunk of medial nerve at the point of its division at the distal edge of the
transverse carpal ligament ([Fig. 3]). In 17 hands, the anastomotic branch originated from the radial collateral nerve
of the thumb ([Fig. 5]). In four observations, we identified the anastomotic branch originating from the
common digital nerve, which branched into the ulnar collateral nerve of the thumb
and radial collateral nerve of the index finger ([Fig. 6]). In three hands, we identified that the fascicles deriving from the median nerve
originated in two different places ([Fig. 7]). We did not identify the branch of the anastomosis coming from the digital collateral
branches of the index finger in our dissections ([Table 2]). We noted that the branches originating from the median nerve were located laterally
and dorsally to the flexor pollicis longus (FPL) tendon, circumvented it, and formed
a loop positioned between the tendon and the first metacarpal.
Fig. 1 (a) Recurrent branch of the median nerve; (b) deep branch of the ulnar nerve; (c) deep head of the flexor pollicis brevis (FPB, double innervation); (d) abductor pollicis brevis; (e) surface head of the FPB; (f) oblique head of the adductor pollicis; (g) transverse head of the adductor pollicis. Extramuscular anastomosis.
Fig. 2 (a) Isolated branch of the median nerve; (b) deep branch of the ulnar nerve; (c) superficial head of the FPB (double innervation); (d) opponent of the thumb; (e) abductor pollicis brevis; (f), oblique head of the adductor pollicis; (g) transverse head of the adductor pollicis. Extramuscular anastomosis.
Fig. 3 (a) Radial collateral branch of the thumb; (b) deep branch of the ulnar nerve; (c) superficial head of the FPB (double innervation); (d) deep head of the FPB (double innervation); (e) adductor pollicis; (f) oblique head of the adductor pollicis; (g) transversal head of the adductor pollicis. Intramuscular anastomosis.
Fig. 4 (a) Common digital branch of the median nerve; (b) deep branch of the ulnar nerve; (c) deep head of FPB (double innervation); (d) superficial head of the FPB; (e) oblique head of the adductor pollicis (double innervation); (f) transverse head of the adductor pollicis. Extramuscular anastomosis.
Fig. 5 Two branches of the median nerve; (a) recurrent branch of the median nerve; (b) radial collateral branch of the median nerve; (c) deep branch of the ulnar nerve; (d) deep head of the FPB (double innervation); (e) abductor pollicis brevis; (f) oblique head of the adductor pollicis; (g) transverse head of the adductor pollicis. Intramuscular anastomosis.
Table 1
|
Form of communication
|
Extramuscular
|
Intramuscular
|
Intra- and extramuscular
|
% total
|
|
Riché-Cannieu anastomosis
|
57 (71%)
|
19 (24%)
|
4 (5%)
|
100%
|
Fig. 6 (a) Recurrent branch of the median nerve; (b) deep branch of the ulnar nerve; (c) deep head of the FPB (double innervation); (d) abductor pollicis brevis; (e) surface head of the FPB; (f) oblique head of the adductor pollicis; (g) transverse head of the adductor pollicis. Intramuscular and extramuscular anastomoses.
Fig. 7 (a) Isolated branch of the median nerve; (b) deep branch of the ulnar nerve; (c) oblique head of the adductor pollicis (double innervation); (d) deep head of the FPB; (e) transverse head of the adductor pollicis; (f) abductor pollicis brevis; (g) superficial head of the FPB. Extramuscular anastomosis.
Table 2
|
Origin of the branches
|
Deep branch of the ulnar nerve
|
Recurrent branch of the median nerve
|
Isolated branch of the median nerve
|
Radial collateral branch of the thumb
|
First common digital nerve
|
|
Riché-Cannieu anastomosis
|
80 (100%)
|
35 (44%)
|
24 (30%)
|
17 (21%)
|
4 (5%)
|
The median-ulnar double innervation only of the deep head of the flexor pollicis brevis
(FPB) muscle was identified in 29 out of 80 hands ([Fig. 1]), and in 12 hands, the deep head of the FPB was absent ([Figs. 7] and [8]). The double innervation only of the superficial head of the FPB muscle was found
in 13 out of 80 hands ([Fig. 2]). The double innervation of the superficial and deep heads of the FPB in the same
hand was present in 14 cases. The oblique head of the adductor pollicis (AdP) received
double innervation in 12 hands. ([Fig. 6]). The deep head of the FPB muscle and the oblique head of the AdP were doubly innervated
in nine hands. The transverse head of AdP received double innervation in two hands
([Fig. 8]). The double innervation of the deep head of the FPB and the transverse head of
the AdP were found in one hand.
Fig. 8 (a) Recurrent branch of the median nerve; (b) deep branch of the ulnar nerve; (c) transverse head (c) and oblique (d) of the adductor pollicis with double innervation; (e) abductor pollicis brevis; (f) opponent of the thumb; (g) superficial head of the FPB; deep head of the FPB (absent). Intramuscular and extramuscular
anastomoses.
We identified 11 different RCA patterns in the 80 dissected hands ([Fig. 9]).
Fig. 9 Schematic drawing of the different patterns of the Riché-Cannieu anastomosis. (1) Branches to the deep head of the FPB muscle; (2) branches to the superficial head of the FPB; (3) branches to the adductor muscle of the thumb. (a) Median nerve; (b) ulnar nerve; (c) recurrent branch of the median nerve; (d) deep branch of the ulnar nerve; (e) branch isolated from the main trunk of the median nerve; (f) digital radial collateral branch of the thumb; (g) first common digital branch of the median nerve.
Discussion
The incidence of RCA is a controversial issue due to a large discrepancy in the literature
regarding prevalence rates. Cannieu[7] dissected 23 hands, and identified the anastomosis in 3 (13%). In the same year,
Riché[6] described three types of connections. Type I: between the deep branch of the ulnar
nerve and the recurrent branch of the median nerve destined for the two heads of the
FPB muscle. Type II: between the deep branch of the ulnar nerve and the median nerve
branch, within the muscular body of the transverse head of the AdP muscle. Type III:
communication between these two nerves inside the muscular body of the lumbrical muscle.
Forrest,[10] in a study combining electromyographic techniques and percutaneous nerve stimulation,
concluded that the RCA may be much more common than we can imagine, and highlighted
its relationship with the double innervation of the muscles of the thenar region.
Harness e Sekeles[11] found RCA in 28 out of 35 dissected hands (77%). Souza[12] dissected 60 hands of corpses prepared in formaldehyde, and found RCA in 30 of them
(50%). Kimura et al[13] identified, in an electrophysiological examination, the incidence of 83.3%, after
analyzing 150 hands of non-selected participants. Falconer e Spinner[2] found this neural communication in 3 (30%) out of 10 dissected hands ([Table 3]). Homma e Sakai[14] found RCA in 4 (66.6%) out of 6 dissected hands. Budak et al[15] registered only 1 (3.1%) out of 32 dissected hands. Ajmani[16] dissected 68 hands of 34 cadavers and identified RAC in 13 (18%) hands. Bölükbaşi
et al[8] reported that they did not identify RCA in 216 hands of 108 medical students who
were evaluated electrophysiologically. Roy et al,[1] in an extensive meta-analysis of nerve communications in the upper limbs, analyzed
501 cases in 6 studies, found a prevalence of 55.5% of RCA, and emphasized that the
incidence rate of RCA could be increased if more accurate dissection techniques were
used on fresh corpses. According to Yang et al,[5] the RCA was observed in 45 (50%) out of 90 upper limbs of cadavers ([Tablel 3]). Harness and Sekeles[11] studied 19 laboratory-prepared specimens and 16 hands of fresh corpses, detected
RCA in 27 (77.1%) out of 35 hands, and described that it is possible that fibers from
the ulnar nerve through this anastomosis were so small that the nerve communication
was not detected anatomically. They suggested that RCA could be identified in all
dissected hands if more accurate dissecting techniques were used in fresh cadavers,
since anastomosis was found in all of the 16 deceased cadavers that were dissected
by them. Kimura et al[13] detected anastomosis in 125 (83.3%) out of the 150 hands of 85 unselected volunteer
participants, and their results led them to assume that perhaps with more sensitive
electrophysiological techniques, such as recording with the needle electrode, an even
greater percentage of detection of this nerve connection would be identified. Our
findings confirm these assumptions, since we identified this neural communication
in all 80 (100%) dissected hands. We reached these results performing dissections
in cadavers of newly-deceased persons under optical magnification (surgical microscope
with a magnification of 10 to 16 times). In some pieces we identified that the anastomotic
branch was so thin that it was only identified with a 16-fold magnification of its
visualization, especially when the connection of the nerve fibers occurred within
the muscular mass (intramuscular anastomoses). We agree with these authors that the
high percentage of anatomical and electrophysiological evidence together with the
clinical observations implies that the RCA should be regarded as a normal neural connection,
not an anatomical variation.
Table 3
|
Year
|
Authors
|
Type of study
|
Cases
|
Riché-Cannieu anastomosis (%)
|
|
1897
|
Riché[6]
|
Anatomic
|
03 out of 23
|
13
|
|
1971
|
Harness and Sekeles[11]
|
Anatomic
|
28 out of 35
|
77
|
|
1975
|
Souza[12]
|
Anatomic
|
30 out of 60
|
50
|
|
1983
|
Kimura et al[13]
|
Electrophysiological
|
125 out of 150
|
83.3
|
|
1985
|
Falconer and Spinner[2]
|
Anatomic
|
03 out of 10
|
30
|
|
1992
|
Homma e Sakai[14]
|
Anatomic
|
04 out of 6
|
66.6
|
|
1994
|
Budak, Bolukbasi e Ozmenoglu[15]
|
Anatomic
|
01 out of 32
|
3
|
|
1996
|
Ajimani[16]
|
Anatomic
|
13 out of 68
|
18
|
|
1999
|
Bölükbaşi et al[18]
|
Electrophysiological
|
0 out of 216
|
0
|
|
2016
|
Roy et al[1]
|
Meta-analysis of 501 studies
|
278 out of 501
|
55.5
|
|
2016
|
Yang et al[5]
|
Anatomic
|
45 out of 90
|
50
|
According to Chevrier,[17] the fascicles from the recurrent branch of the median nerve destined to the anastomosis
originated laterally from the tendon of the FPL muscle and, when originating from
the digital nerves of the thumb, were positioned medially to the tendon. Souza[12] found the RCA between the deep branch of the ulnar nerve and the recurrent branch
of the median nerve in 50% of the cases, and between the deep branch of the ulnar
nerve and the digital branches of the median nerve in 50% of the cases, and always
laterally to FPL. Falconer and Spinner[2] found the RCA in three cases: in two of them it was positioned laterally and dorsally
to the FPL, and the third arose from a separate branch of the median nerve; it was
located dorsally and medially to the FPL. We did not identify the branch of the anastomosis
from the digital collateral branches of the index finger in our dissections; the branches
originating from the median nerve were located laterally to the FPL tendon; they circumvented
it and formed a loop, which was positioned between the tendon and the first metacarpal.
We recorded in our dissections that the anastomotic component of the median nerve
was represented by fascicles originating from the recurrent branch in 35 observations.
In 24 hands, the anastomotic fascicles originated directly from the main trunk of
median nerve, in an isolated branch at the point of its ramification at the distal
edge of the transverse carpal ligament.
In 17 hands, the anastomotic branch originated from the radial collateral nerve of
the thumb. In four observations, we identified the anastomotic branch originating
from the common digital nerve that branched into the ulnar collateral nerve of the
thumb and the radial collateral of the index finger. In three hands, we identified
that the fascicles originating from the median nerve did so in two different places.
We did not identify the branch of the anastomosis originating from the digital palmar
nerves of the index finger in our dissections, as described by Sarikcioglu and Sindel[18] and Paraskevas et al.[19]
The double innervation of the thenar muscles suggests the incidence of RCA. Forrest[10] reported that the muscles located near the nerve connection may receive double innervation,
and Harness and Sekeles[11] share the same opinion, saying that the terminal motor anastomoses between the median
and ulnar nerves may be more frequent than it has been admitted. Our results corroborate
these assertions, since we identified the median-ulnar double innervation of the deep
head of the FPL muscle in 29 out of 80 hands. The superficial head of the FPL muscle
was double-innervated in 13 out of 80 hands. Double innervation of the superficial
and deep heads of the FPL in the same hand occurred in 14 cases. The oblique head
of the AdP muscle received double innervation in 13 hands. The deep head of the FPL
muscle and the oblique head of the AdP in the same hand were double-innervated in
nine cases. The transverse head of the AdP received double innervation in three hands.
Communications between the median and ulnar nerves can cause changes in the clinical
symptoms, especially in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome, since these variations
may exacerbate or attenuate the clinical picture, causing motor and sensory alterations
that differ from the usual pattern. Cliffton,[20] with electrophysiological methods, described a case in which all of the intrinsic
muscles of the hand were innervated, despite complete injury of the ulnar nerve. He
also described another case in which there was complete median nerve injury and all
intrinsic muscles were functioning, despite the absence of sensation in the innervation
area of the median nerve. In the first situation, all intrinsic muscles received innervation
from the median nerve, and, in the second case, from the ulnar nerve. He attributed
these variations to Martin-Gruber anastomosis (connection between the median and ulnar
nerves in the forearm). However, we consider that this variation described by Cliffton[20] could be caused by RCA because this nervous communication is 3 times more frequent
than Martin-Gruber anastomosis, and in the 80 dissected hands in our study, we did
not identify any one in which all the muscles were innervated by a single nerve.
Komar et al[21] report a case with complete median nerve injury above the elbow, with incomplete
paralysis of the median nerve in the hand and loss of sensation in the territory of
sensory innervation of the median nerve. They reported that the electromyographic
study suggested that there was transfer of nerve fibers from the ulnar to the median
nerve on the forearm. Amoiridis[22] states that, in this case described by por Komar et al,[21] it is not a question of nerve communication in the forearm, since the stimulus in
the wrist did not cause a response of the muscles of the thenar region. In this case,
the transfer of fascicles from the ulnar to the median nerve likely occurred distally
to the wrist by the RCA.
Saperstein and King[23] have described that the RCA can produce clinical and electrodiagnostic findings
that confuse the examiner. They reported a case of deep branch neuropathy of the ulnar
nerve complicated by the RCA. Its clinical presentation led to an initial diagnosis
of motor neuron disease, and, after extensive electrophysiological studies, it became
clear that it was ulnar neuropathy associated with RCA. Refaeian et al[3] reported two cases of carpal tunnel syndrome associated with RCA because, despite
the absence of median nerve response to the electrophysiological stimulus, their patients
had significant preservation of the function of the thenar muscles, without muscular
atrophy. The stimulation of the ulnar nerve, both in the wrist and in the elbow, generated
compound muscle action potentials that are easy to obtain from the thenar eminence,
so they affirm that preservation of function and electrophysiological responses are
better explained by the presence of RCA through nerve fibers originating from the
ulnar nerve. Tamagawa et al[4] reported the case of a 72-year-old woman with dysesthesias in the left median nerve
distribution area, followed by dysesthesias in the right ulnar distribution area.
The clinical examination revealed weakness in the intrinsic muscles of the right hand,
with atrophy of the thenar and hypothenar ipsilateral muscles, and emphasized that
the paradoxical preservation of the left thenar muscles was a clinical challenge.
Through nerve conduction studies, they identified bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome
and right cubital tunnel syndrome. Complementary studies with electromyography with
needle recording indicated that there were transferences of nerve fibers from the
ulnar to the median nerve, that is, RCA. Rovers et al[24] reported a case that presented progressive loss of force in the left hand without
sensory changes. There was atrophy of the thenar region and the first dorsal interosseous.
A serial electromyographic examination revealed that it was not, as suspected, motor
neuron disease, but RCA associated with piso-hamate hiatus syndrome. The authors emphasize
that attention is paramount, since the RCA can simulate the disease of the motor neuron.
Conclusion
We identified the RCA in 80 (100%) dissected hands. According to our study, RCA should
be considered a normal anatomical neural connection, not an anatomical variation.
Knowledge of this anastomosis and its anatomical patterns is essential because the
presence of this neural communication can cause confounding clinical, surgical and
electromyographic findings in the case of lesions or compressive syndromes of the
median or ulnar nerves.