High frequency of the median artery of the forearm in South African newborns and infants

Abstract

In a sample of 60 neonates and infants from black communities in the Johannesburg area, the median artery of the forearm was found in 50% of individuals (11.7% in one forearm only, 38.3% in both forearms). The frequency per forearm was 44.2%, much higher than that found in any previous study, even among adults from the same community (27.1% per forearm). The artery occurs bilaterally significantly more often than it does in one antimere only. There are no differences in its frequency between sexes or between antimeres. The artery provides an additional route of blood supply to the forearm that should be kept in mind by hand surgeons. It can also be harvested for vascular grafts.