Antebrachial Fascia

fascia antebrachii

The antebrachial fascia is the deep fascia of the forearm, a tough sleeve continuous with the brachial fascia above. It is attached to the posterior border of the ulna along its length and is reinforced at the elbow by the bicipital aponeurosis. Near the wrist it thickens to form the extensor retinaculum dorsally and the palmar carpal ligament in front.

Anatomical Data

Boundaries & Contents

Location	Deep to the subcutaneous tissue of the forearm, from the elbow to the wrist.
Boundaries	Continuous above with the brachial fascia Attached to the posterior border of the ulna Reinforced at the elbow by the bicipital aponeurosis Thickens distally into the extensor retinaculum and palmar carpal ligament

Biomechanics

Function & Actions

Encloses the forearm muscles, forms the walls of the forearm compartments and gives origin to superficial forearm muscles.

Clinical Relevance

Clinical Notes

This fascia forms the outer wall of the forearm compartments, which are the most common site of upper limb compartment syndrome, usually after distal radius or both-bone forearm fractures and supracondylar fractures in children. Volar and dorsal fasciotomies release the compartments. Its deep surface gives origin to the superficial flexor and extensor muscles near the elbow.

Pathology

Common Injuries & Conditions

Forearm Compartment Syndrome

Swelling inside the unyielding forearm fascia raises tissue pressure and cuts off blood flow to the flexor muscles first, leading without fasciotomy to Volkmann ischaemic contracture.

Volkmann Ischaemic Contracture

Permanent flexion deformity of the wrist and fingers from fibrosis of ischaemic forearm flexor muscles after an untreated compartment syndrome.

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