An Anatomical Study to the Branching Pattern of the Posterior Interosseous Nerve on the Dorsal Side of the Hand

Partial denervation of the wrist can benefit patients with chronic wrist pain. A complication of partial denervation is loss of proprioception and hypesthesia on the dorsal side of the hand. Our aim is to evaluate whether the sensory branches of the posterior interosseous nerve could contribute to the loss of proprioception and sensation. The branching pattern of the posterior interosseous nerve was studied in 20 cadaveric hands. The terminal branches of the posterior interosseous nerve reached the metacarpophalangeal joints in three specimens (15%), the midshaft of the metacarpals in three specimens (15%), carpometacarpal joints in 11 specimens (55%), and the scapholunate joint in three specimens (15%). The finding that terminal branches of the posterior interosseous nerve can reach the metacarpals and the metacarpophalangeal joints indicates that the posterior nerve may contribute to the proprioception and sensation of the dorsal side of the hand. Clin. Anat., 33:678–682, 2020.