scholarly journals A report on the accessory head of Flexor Pollicis Longus and Variations of Forearm Musculature

2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (02) ◽  
pp. 098-106
Author(s):  
S. Hafez

Abstract Introduction: Gantzer's muscle has drawn attention from several authors owing to the possibility of interosseous nerve compression. This is a report of an accessory head of flexor pollicis longus (FPL, a variant of Gantzer's muscle) and a review of the variations of all muscles of the forearm. Materials and Methods: An accessory head of FPL was discovered in both the right and left antebrachial regions during a cadaver dissection. The muscle was dissected and photographed. Results: The anatomical variation I report is a slender conical muscle joining the FPL. Its origin merged with fibers of the flexor digitorum superficialis. It inserted into the upper part of the middle third of the forearm by joining the medial tendinous part of the FPL; this join was by means of a short cylindrical tendon. The reported muscle was innervated by the anterior interosseous nerve, which was seen to be present posterolateral to the muscle in both forearms. Conclusion: The described muscle might cause pressure problems to the underlying structures especially the anterior interosseous nerve. Variations must be considered during surgical intervention to avoid unintentional damage to healthy tendons. In addition, accessory tendons can potentially be useful in the repair or replacement of damaged tendons through surgical transfer or transplantation. Variations of muscles, especially accessory muscles, may mimic the behavior of soft tissue tumors and can result in nerve compressions. This collection of variations of the forearm musculature will be useful to surgeons in practice as well as students in dissection labs.

Author(s):  
Łukasz Olewnik ◽  
Bartłomiej Szewczyk ◽  
Nicol Zielinska ◽  
Dariusz Grzelecki ◽  
Michał Polguj

AbstractThe coexistence of different muscular-neurovascular variations is of significant clinical importance. A male cadaver, 76 years old at death, was subjected to routine anatomical dissection; the procedure was performed for research and teaching purposes at the Department of Anatomical Dissection and Donation, Medical University of Lodz. The right forearm and hand were dissected using standard techniques according to a strictly specified protocol. The presence accessory head of the flexor pollicis longus may potentially compress the anterior interosseous nerve. The present case report describes a rare variant of the ulnar head of the pronator teres, characterized by two independent bands (i.e., two proximal attachments). The main band originates from the coronoid process and the second originates from the tendon of the biceps brachii. This type of attachment could potentially affect the compression of the ulnar artery running between the two bands. Additionally, the accessory head of the flexor pollicis longus was observed, which started on the medial epicondyle; its coexistence with a high division median nerve creates a potential pressure site on the anterior interesosseous nerve.


Hand Surgery ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 17 (02) ◽  
pp. 221-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Lin ◽  
S. Sreedharan ◽  
Andrew Y. H. Chin

A 20-year-old man presented with an inability to flex the interphalangeal joint of the right thumb without simultaneous flexion of the distal interphalangeal joint of the index finger following a penetrating injury to the right forearm. With a clinical suspicion of intertendinous adhesions between the flexor pollicis longus and the flexor digitorum profundus to the index finger, surgical exploration under wide-awake anesthesia was performed. Intraoperatively, the intertendinous adhesions were identified and divided completely. Postoperatively, the patient achieved good, independent flexion of the interphalangeal joint of the thumb. This case demonstrates a clinical picture similar to that of Linburg-Comstock syndrome, which occurred following a forearm penetrating injury. We call this the Linburg-Comstock (LC) phenomenon.


HAND ◽  
1983 ◽  
Vol os-15 (2) ◽  
pp. 221-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. G. Andersen ◽  
J. W. Brandsma

A patient is presented with bilateral thenar paralysis, due to poliomyelitis. On the right hand a successful abductor digiti minimi transfer was performed. On the left hand weakness of the hypothenar muscles prevented a good result. Subsequently an opponens replacement, using flexor digitorum superficialis from the ring finger, yielded a good result.


2013 ◽  
Vol 03 (01) ◽  
pp. 69-71
Author(s):  
Soubhagya R. Nayak ◽  
Suranjali Sharma ◽  
Hasi Dasgupta ◽  
Kalyan Bhattacharya

AbstractAnomalous muscles usually do not result in adverse symptoms but are of academic interest. However, these muscles can create neurovascular compression at times. Muscle anomalies of the upper extremity are recognized causes of peripheral nerve disorder. Koloh-Nevin Syndrome (Anterior Interosseous Nerve Syndrome) caused by the compression neuropathy of the anterior interosseous nerve in the forearm is believed to occur because of its compression by the accessory heads of flexor pollics longus (FPLah) and flexor digitorum profundus (FDPah). The above two accessory muscles are also called Gantzer's muscle. During routine cadaveric dissection, we encountered multiple Gantzer's muscles in a 60 year-old- formalin embalmed male cadaver. Along with the usual FPLah and FDPah described by Gantzer, we too observed an accessory muscle in relation to the flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS). All the three anomalous muscles had a common origin from the under cover of the FDS fibers and by fibrous band above the insertion of brachialis. The presence of multiple additional muscles in the forearm flexor compartment is rare and clinically significant.


HAND ◽  
1982 ◽  
Vol os-14 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. M. Evans

An anatomical variation is described in which a connection between flexor digitorum superficialis and profundus of the ring finger led to difficulty in withdrawing the superficial tendon for transfer.


1970 ◽  
Vol 52 (195) ◽  
pp. 946-948
Author(s):  
Katerina Vymazalová ◽  
Lenka Vargová ◽  
Marek Joukal

In this paper, we describe a very rare variant in the course of the ulnar artery that we encountered in dissecting the right upper limb of a 74-year-old man. The ulnar artery arose standardly from the brachial artery in the cubital fossa. However, its ensuing course differed from the norm. The artery entered together with the ulnar vein and median nerve into the pronator canal (between the humeral and ulnar heads of the pronator teres). Further, the ulnar artery descended classically to the ulnar side of the forearm between the flexor carpi ulnaris and flexor digitorum superficialis. Knowledge of this variation in the course of the ulnar artery may have significance in clinical practice because accumulation of anatomical structures in the pronator canal could be a predisposing factor for the compression of nerve or blood vessels. Keywords: anatomical variation; median nerve; pronator canal; pronator teres muscle; ulnar artery.  


PeerJ ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. e1255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joyeeta Roy ◽  
Brandon M. Henry ◽  
Przemysław A. Pękala ◽  
Jens Vikse ◽  
Piravin Kumar Ramakrishnan ◽  
...  

Background and Objectives.The accessory head of the flexor pollicis longus muscle (AHFPL), also known as the Gantzer’s muscle, was first described in 1813. The prevalence rates of an AHFPL significantly vary between studies, and no consensus has been reached on the numerous variations reported in its origin, innervation, and relationships to the Anterior Interosseous Nerve (AIN) and the Median Nerve (MN). The aim of our study was to determine the true prevalence of AHFPL and to study its associated anatomical characteristics.Methods.A search of the major electronic databases PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science was performed to identify all articles reporting data on the prevalence of AHPFL in the population. No date or language restriction was set. Additionally, an extensive search of the references of all relevant articles was performed. Data on the prevalence of the AHFPL in upper limbs and its anatomical characteristics and relationships including origin, insertion, innervation, and position was extracted and pooled into a meta-analysis using MetaXL version 2.0.Results.A total of 24 cadaveric studies (n= 2,358 upper limb) were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of an AHFPL was 44.2% (95% CI [0.347–0.540]). An AHFPL was found more commonly in men than in women (41.1% vs. 24.1%), and was slightly more prevalent on the right side than on the left side (52.8% vs. 45.2%). The most common origin of the AHFPL was from the medial epicondyle of the humerus with a pooled prevalence of 43.6% (95% CI [0.166–0.521]). In most cases, the AHFPL inserted into the flexor pollicis longus muscle (94.6%, 95% CI [0.731–1.0]) and was innervated by the AIN (97.3%, 95% CI [0.924–0.993]).Conclusion.The AHFPL should be considered as more a part of normal anatomy than an anatomical variant. The variability in its anatomical characteristics, and its potential to cause compression of the AIN and MN, must be taken into account by physicians to avoid iatrogenic injury during decompression procedures and to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of Anterior Interosseous Nerve Syndrome.


1984 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 129-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. S. RAE ◽  
D. FINLAYSON

A case of closed rupture of the tendon of flexor pollicis longus following treatment of a Bennett’s fracture is described. This unusual complication was treated by transfer of the tendon of flexor digitorum superficialis of the ring finger.


2015 ◽  
Vol 04 (04) ◽  
pp. 179-185
Author(s):  
Roshni Bajpe ◽  
Tarakeshwari R. ◽  
Shubha R.

Abstract Background : Gantzer muscle is the name given to the additional head of Flexor Digitorum Profudus (FDP) or Flexor Pollicis Longus (FPL). It connects the superficial flexors and deep flexors of forearm. It sometimes may be related to Anterior Interosseous Nerve (AIN) and Ulnar artery causing Compressive Neuropathy or Vascular symptoms. Aim: To assess incidence of Gantzer muscle in South Indian population, its morphology and clinical significance. Materials and methods: The study was carried out on 50 upper limbs dissected by first year M.B.B.S students. Results : Nine upper limbs showed the presence of Gantzer muscle, three belonged to the right and six belonged to the left. Observations : Additional heads were associated as follows: From FDP-2 and from FPL-7. Innervation was either from Median nerve, Anterior Interosseous nerve or Ulnar nerve. Superficially median nerve was related, deep relations were Ulnar artery and Anterior Interosseous nerve. In one case, Median nerve and artery were related superficially. Conclusion: Gantzer muscle is important clinically as a cause of vascular or nerve compression.


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