Clinical Assessment of Existence of Palmaris Longus Muscle among South Indian Population

Background: Palmaris longus tendon is often used as a donor tendon by surgeons in tendon grafts. It is one of the flexor muscles of the forearm and documented well for its variations in both morphology and number of tendons. Prevalence of absence of this muscle varies among the individuals of same population and individuals of various ethnic groups. The aim of this study was to assess the existence of Palmaris longus muscle within a group of students and its association with side of the limb and gender of the individual. Methods: Three hundred medical students of 150 males and 150 females with age group of 18–21 years were clinically assessed. The standard Schaffer’s test was used for the assessment of PL tendon. If the tendon was not found in this test, the confirmation was done by other four tests. Results: Results of this study shows that an overall absence of palmaris longus muscle in both sexes was found to be 32%, out of which 21% absence was found in males and 43% absence found in females. Among the males, the unilateral agenesis was seen in 16% and bilateral agenesis in 4% and in females the unilateral agenesis was seen in 29% and bilateral agenesis seen in 14%. Conclusions: To conclude; in the present study, prevalence of Palmaris longus muscle agenesis was found to be more in female subjects on their left side. Surgeons who plan for tendon reconstructive procedures should know variations of Palmaris longus muscle and its clinical assessment.