Superficial ulnar artery identification with vascular Doppler ultrasound: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Background The ulnar artery normally follows a deep and medial course beneath the flexor digitorum profundus muscle. Anatomical variants in the upper limb vasculature are relatively common and may result from disruptions in angiogenesis or vasculogenesis. One example of such anatomic variants is presence of a superficial ulnar artery, which follows an atypical path superficial to the flexor digitorum profundus muscle. This variant is clinically important and can be diagnosed using vascular Doppler ultrasound. Objectives To determine the incidence of the superficial ulnar artery using vascular Doppler ultrasound and to compare these findings with data from cadaveric studies. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted, examining 314 upper limbs from 157 volunteers using vascular Doppler ultrasound. Results The superficial ulnar artery was detected in 2.5% of the participants. This incidence aligns with previous cadaveric studies, in which reported prevalence rates range from 0.7% to 9.4%. Being aware of this variation is of fundamental importance in procedures such as peripheral venipuncture, vein cannulation, forearm flaps, and emergency surgeries of the upper limb. Conclusions The superficial ulnar artery is a relatively frequent anatomical variant of the upper limb. The 2.5% incidence observed in this study is consistent with previously published cadaveric studies.