The Controversy Surrounding the Arcade of Struthers: A Systematic Review of Literature

The arcade of Struthers was first described by Kane et al in 1973 as a thickening of the deep investing fascia of the distal arm and superficial fibers of the medial head of the triceps muscle extending to the medial intermuscular septum. However, existence of anatomical structure remains disputed, la...

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Main Authors: Tinatin Natroshvili, Maaike van de Meene, Walter J. Szweryn, Marius A. Kemler
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd. 2025-02-01
Series:Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery
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Online Access:http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.1055/s-0044-1793948
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author Tinatin Natroshvili
Maaike van de Meene
Walter J. Szweryn
Marius A. Kemler
author_facet Tinatin Natroshvili
Maaike van de Meene
Walter J. Szweryn
Marius A. Kemler
author_sort Tinatin Natroshvili
collection DOAJ
description The arcade of Struthers was first described by Kane et al in 1973 as a thickening of the deep investing fascia of the distal arm and superficial fibers of the medial head of the triceps muscle extending to the medial intermuscular septum. However, existence of anatomical structure remains disputed, lacking a unanimous consensus. This systematic review aims to provide an overview of all findings and conclusions on this subject. A literature search was conducted using Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Medline, Embase, and Web of Science. The QUality Appraisal for Cadaveric Studies (QUACS) scale was used for quality appraisal. In total, 12 studies (including 348 arms) agreed with the existence of the arcade of Struthers and its role in ulnar nerve entrapment. One study agreed with the existence of the structure, but disagreed with its nomenclature. On the other side, five studies (describing 224 arms) were against the existence of the structure. In literature, studies can be divided into two groups. The first group agrees with the existence of the arcade of Struthers as described by Kane et al in 1973, emphasizing its role in ulnar nerve entrapment. The second group disagrees with the existence of the arcade of Struthers, and is further divided into those who believe the structure is best described as an accessory origin of the head of the triceps muscle and those who consider it a dissection artifact.
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spelling doaj-art-fe2a69a2b2af4fa695994e4980d8c7fb2025-08-20T03:06:16ZengThieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd.Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery0970-03581998-376X2025-02-01580101101710.1055/s-0044-1793948The Controversy Surrounding the Arcade of Struthers: A Systematic Review of LiteratureTinatin Natroshvili0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4078-3228Maaike van de Meene1Walter J. Szweryn2Marius A. Kemler3Department of Plastic Surgery, Martini Hospital, NT Groningen, The NetherlandsDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Martini Hospital, NT Groningen, The NetherlandsDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Martini Hospital, NT Groningen, The NetherlandsDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Martini Hospital, NT Groningen, The NetherlandsThe arcade of Struthers was first described by Kane et al in 1973 as a thickening of the deep investing fascia of the distal arm and superficial fibers of the medial head of the triceps muscle extending to the medial intermuscular septum. However, existence of anatomical structure remains disputed, lacking a unanimous consensus. This systematic review aims to provide an overview of all findings and conclusions on this subject. A literature search was conducted using Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Medline, Embase, and Web of Science. The QUality Appraisal for Cadaveric Studies (QUACS) scale was used for quality appraisal. In total, 12 studies (including 348 arms) agreed with the existence of the arcade of Struthers and its role in ulnar nerve entrapment. One study agreed with the existence of the structure, but disagreed with its nomenclature. On the other side, five studies (describing 224 arms) were against the existence of the structure. In literature, studies can be divided into two groups. The first group agrees with the existence of the arcade of Struthers as described by Kane et al in 1973, emphasizing its role in ulnar nerve entrapment. The second group disagrees with the existence of the arcade of Struthers, and is further divided into those who believe the structure is best described as an accessory origin of the head of the triceps muscle and those who consider it a dissection artifact.http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.1055/s-0044-1793948arcade of Struthersulnar nerve entrapmentStruthers’ ligament
spellingShingle Tinatin Natroshvili
Maaike van de Meene
Walter J. Szweryn
Marius A. Kemler
The Controversy Surrounding the Arcade of Struthers: A Systematic Review of Literature
Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery
arcade of Struthers
ulnar nerve entrapment
Struthers’ ligament
title The Controversy Surrounding the Arcade of Struthers: A Systematic Review of Literature
title_full The Controversy Surrounding the Arcade of Struthers: A Systematic Review of Literature
title_fullStr The Controversy Surrounding the Arcade of Struthers: A Systematic Review of Literature
title_full_unstemmed The Controversy Surrounding the Arcade of Struthers: A Systematic Review of Literature
title_short The Controversy Surrounding the Arcade of Struthers: A Systematic Review of Literature
title_sort controversy surrounding the arcade of struthers a systematic review of literature
topic arcade of Struthers
ulnar nerve entrapment
Struthers’ ligament
url http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.1055/s-0044-1793948
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