Review Question - QID 100947

The posterior antebrachial cutaneous nerve branches from the radial nerve in the axilla. It extends distally to innervate the skin on the back of the arm. Gerwin et al recommended identifying the nerve first when approaching the humerus from the posterior shaft. It can be traced proximally to safely identify the radial nerve before any proximal exposure of the shaft is done. Gerwin et al in their review also found that the radial nerve crossed the posterior aspect of the humerus an average of 20.7 +/- 1.2 centimeters proximal to the medial epicondyle to 14.2 +/- 0.6 centimeters proximal to the lateral epicondyle. In their review, Zlotolow et al. review the multiple surgical approaches to the humerus.