Cadaveric dissection study of 93 shoulders examining where the musculocutaneous nerve and its proximal motor twigs enter the coracobrachialis muscle relative to the coracoid tip — directly testing whether the commonly taught 5–8 cm safe zone is anatomically valid.
When performing any procedure requiring coracoid mobilization — Latarjet, Bristow, coracoid osteotomy, or subscapularis takedown — never rely on the 5–8 cm safe zone to protect the musculocutaneous nerve; nearly one-third of main trunks and three-quarters of specimens when twigs are included lie within that zone, so direct nerve identification before retraction is mandatory.
Cadaveric dissection study of 93 shoulders examining where the musculocutaneous nerve and its proximal motor twigs enter the coracobrachialis muscle relative to the coracoid tip — directly testing whether the commonly taught 5–8 cm safe zone is anatomically valid.
When performing any procedure requiring coracoid mobilization — Latarjet, Bristow, coracoid osteotomy, or subscapularis takedown — never rely on the 5–8 cm safe zone to protect the musculocutaneous nerve; nearly one-third of main trunks and three-quarters of specimens when twigs are included lie within that zone, so direct nerve identification before retraction is mandatory.