Median nerve and brachial artery entrapment in the tendinous arch of coracobrachialis muscle

Vincent RODRIGUES, Satheesha N

Abstract

Knowledge of variation in the pattern of muscle insertion and possible neurovascular entrapment is important for orthopedic surgeons, plastic surgeons and physiotherapists. We found a variation in the insertion pattern of coracobrachialis and entrapped median nerve and brachial artery by the tendinous arch of the muscle, in relation to the neurovascular bundle. The coracobrachialis had an additional insertion in the form of a tendinous arch which extended from the lower part of the muscle to the medial intermuscular septum. The median nerve, brachial artery, its venae commitantes and a muscular branch from brachial artery passed deep to this arch. The abnormality reported here might result in neurovascular compression symptoms in upper limb.