International Journal of Anatomical Sciences 2012, 3(1): 19-21

Research Article

Martin-Gruber Anastomosis – Its Morphology and Clinical significance

Azhagiri R, Melani Rajendran S.

 Department  of  Anatomy,  Sri  Muthukumaran  Medical  College  Hospital  and  Research Institute, Chikkarayapuram, Chennai 600 069, Tamil Nadu, India.
Department of Anatomy, Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute, Porur, Chennai 600 116, Tamil Nadu, India.

Key words: Martin-Gruber, anastomosis, ulnar nerve, median nerve

 Abstract: Knowledge on the prevalence of variations between the nerves is essential when establishing the diagnosis of neuropathies and surgical landmarks. In this study,50 forearm regions of cadavers of both sexes were dissected to examine the communication between the median and ulnar nerves (Martin-Gruber anastomosis). This anastomosis was found only in one case (2%) on the left side. There was no significant gender in the incidence of this connection.  Despite the low incidence of Martin-Gruber anastomosis been observed here, the importance of an adequate investigation of these connections needs to be understood.

Martin- Gruber anastomoses are the communications of motor nerve fibres in the forearm   between   the   median   and   ulnar nerves. Most of the communications cross from the median nerve to the ulnar nerve (Rodriguez-Niedenfuhr et al., 2002) and are bilateral in 10 to 40% of the cases (Taams,1997). Martin- Gruber anastomoses was first demonstrated  by  the  anatomist  Martin  in 1763, and later by Gruber in 1970 (Gruber,1970). When present, it is unilateral and occurs more frequently in the right arm. Martin-Gruber  Anastomosis  apparently carry  only  motor  fibres  (Leibovie    et  al.,1992, Hasegawa et al.,2001).

 This anomaly is asymptomatic and often  goes  undetected.  However,  its presence is detected with injuries or other disturbance of ulnar or median nerve (Iyer,1976). Understanding the existence of this variation, its location and its possible presentation is important for correct patient assistance. Therefore the study was carried out to find out the prevalence of such anastomosis.

Material and Methods

Upper  limbs  from  20  cadavers  of both sexes (40 nos) and 10 free upper limbs were used for the study. The dissection has been done on both sides of the upper limbs to expose the flexor surface of forearm. The flexor muscles were exposed and the ulnar and median nerves and their branches were exposed and the anatomical arrangement and the   relationship   with   adjacent   structures were observed to find out the presence of Martin- Gruber anastomoses.

Observations

Out of 50 cases dissected, only one case (2%) showed the presence of Martin – Gruber anastomosis on the right side in the distal part of proximal half of the forearm. The communicating fibers were traversing from the ulnar to the median nerve (Fig.1).

Discussion

The Martin – Gruber anastomosis (Gruber, 1870) is a communication between the motor fibers of the median nerve or its branches and the ulnar nerve in the forearm which occurs in 15% of limbs.In the present study, 2% of the cases the  Martin  –  Gruber  anastomosis  it  was found between median nerve and ulnar nerve in  the  proximal  part  of  distal  third  of forearm.Such anastomosis occurs in 15% of the limb, it is being derived from the AIN in 50% of cases (Collins and Weber, 1983). Mannerfelt (1966), observed approximately one Martin–Gruber anastomosis in two cases arose from  the AIN,  therefore a lesion  of that nerve can sometimes cause weakness of the ulnar innervated small muscles of the hand.

In Hirasawa’s study (1931), this type of communication was found in 10.5% of forearms.  Maeda  et  al.,  (1977)  stated  that one half of these communications arise from the AIN.  Incidence of this communication was 5% in his study of Frazao et al (2000), the present study also  coincides with this. Kaplan (1984) described the Martin–Gruber anastomosis as a motor anastomosis spreading from the median to the ulnar nerve in  the  forearm,  whereas  Ranschburg  and Ober die (1917) described it as a transfer of motor as well as sensory fibers from the median to the ulnar nerve. On the contrary, in the present observation there was transfer of fibers from the ulnar to the median nerve. Such transfer of fibers from the ulnar to median nerve is extremely rare (Amoiridis,1992). Martin–Gruber anastomosis has clinical importance. The major danger in not recognizing Martin–Gruber anastomosis is that of mistakenly interpreting the findings as ulnar conduction block. Apart from it Martin–Gruber anastomosis has clinical significance for understanding median nerve lesion   and   carpel   tunnel   syndrome.   It appears from the present study that identification of Martin–Gruber anastomosis is very crucial before labeling the condition as ulnar neuropathy as the mode of treatment differs accordingly (former needs no treatment while later need it appropriately). Further, we concluded that nerve conduction study is a reliable tool diagnosis of Martin– Gruber anastomosis prevalence of which we reported as 12% in central Indian subjects.

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