Microanatomic analysis of the medial antebrachial nerve as a potential donor nerve in maxillofacial grafting

Purpose: To histologically compare the anterior branch of the medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve (MACN) with the sural nerve using biometric techniques. Patients and Methods: Twenty-centimeter segments of the right and left (MACN) and sural nerves from three cadavers were analyzed. The number of fascicles within the nerves were counted and the neural to connective tissue ratio was estimated. Results: Sural nerves consistently showed greater amounts of connective tissue between the fascicles than the MACN. Fascicle diameter varied less throughout the length of the MACN. Fascicle diameter varied less throughout the length of the MACN and it showed fewer and larger fascicles, more closely approximating the anatomy of the inferior alveolar nerve. Conclusion: These preliminary data suggest that the MACN, on anatomic grounds, is theoretically more suited for grafting to the alveolar and lingual nerves than the sural nerve.