Anatomical Study of the Relationship between the Riché-Cannieu Anastomosis and the Kaplan Cardinal Line.

 To identify the location of the Riché-Cannieu anastomosis (RCA) in relation to the Cardinal Kaplan Line (KCL) and the Y line.  A total of 20 hands of 10 recently-deceased adult male cadavers aged between 27 and 66 years were dissected for the investigation of the relationship of the most distal point of the RCA with the KCL and with the Y line, drawn from the axis of the third metacarpal head, following the longitudinal axis of the hand.  In 20 limbs, the most distal point of the nerve communication was positioned distally in relation to the KCL.