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Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy
Published in: Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy 8/2020

01-08-2020 | Anatomic Variations

Absence of flexor digitorum profundus muscle and variation of flexor digitorum superficialis muscle in a little finger: two case reports

Authors: Miroslav Belbl, Vojtech Kunc, David Kachlik

Published in: Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy | Issue 8/2020

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Abstract

Purpose

Knowledge of rare variants of the FDP is of high clinical importance for physicians examining patients for tendon lacerations and especially for hand surgeons operating tendon injuries.

Methods

During routine dissection at our Department of Anatomy both cases were observed.

Results

Variations of flexor digitorum superficialis and flexor digitorum profundus muscles of the little finger were observed in two cadavers. In both cases, the flexor digitorum profundus muscle for the little finger was absent. Moreover, in the first case, the flexor digitorum superficialis muscle for the little finger was hypoplastic and in the second case it featured variable insertion.

Conclusion

There were found only four cases in previous literature describing absent flexor digitorum profundus tendon without any muscle attachment to the base of the distal phalanx. Furthermore, all previously described cases were observed in living patients. To our best knowledge, a case report in cadaver has yet not been reported and is of high importance for hand surgeons examining the hand for tendon injuries.
Literature
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Metadata
Title
Absence of flexor digitorum profundus muscle and variation of flexor digitorum superficialis muscle in a little finger: two case reports
Authors
Miroslav Belbl
Vojtech Kunc
David Kachlik
Publication date
01-08-2020
Publisher
Springer Paris
Published in
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy / Issue 8/2020
Print ISSN: 0930-1038
Electronic ISSN: 1279-8517
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-020-02420-y

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