Morphometric and anatomic characteristics of pronator quadratus muscle

The incision and release of the pronator quadratus muscle is important in surgical operations that are frequently used in scaphoid and distal radial fractures. However clinicians have performed limited number of studies on pronator quadratus muscle anatomy and in this respect, we aimed to contribute to the medical literature with a detailed study on the morphology and morphometry of this muscle. Pronator quadratus muscle was examined bilaterally in 22 cadavers. Determined morphometric values were analyzed with respect to side and gender. The parameters which have statistically significant differences between genders are; radial length, vertical distance between pronator quadratus muscle at the proximal and distal attachment points of the radius, vertical distance between styloid process of radius and distal edge of pronator quadratus muscle, ulnar length, pronator quadratus muscle width, distance between the entry point of the anterior interosseus nerve to the pronator quadratus muscle and the lateral border of the radius, distance between the entry point of the anterior interosseus nerve to the pronator quadratus muscle and the medial border of ulna. The statistically significant parameter between the right and left extremities was the vertical distance between the proximal and distal attachment points of the pronator quadratus muscle to the radius. We think that this study, in which we have analyzed the anatomy of pronator quadratus muscle, its arterial supply and the organisation of its neurovascular structures, has made a very important contribution to orthopaedic operations.