A Study Of Arrangement Of The Extensor Tendons In The Hand

Background and Objective: Knowledge of normal anatomy of extensor tendons of forearm and hand, along withthe variations which can occur in this arrangement of tendons is necessary for anatomists as well as orthopedicsurgeons who deal with it. This knowledge is needed for anatomists for routine dissection of the cadaver forteaching, and for surgeons when they operating injured hand or diseased hand where tendon repair orreconstruction is needed. In this study we tried to document the arrangement of extensor tendons of medial fourfingers of human hand.Materials and Methods: By using 80 upper limb specimens of human cadaver, arrangement of extensor tendonsto the medial four fingers are studied from origin to insertion, including middle part of the tendons to observesplitting in the tendons. The tendons studied are extensor digitorum communis (EDC) with four tendons, namelyextensor digitorum communis index (EDCI), extensor digitorum communis longus (EDCL), extensor digitorumcommunis ring (EDCR), extensor digitorum communis small (EDCS), extensor indicis proprius (EIP) tendon, extensordigiti minimi (EDM) tendon. The special findings are photographed; all the findings are tabulated and analyzedstatistically.Results: The important findings are, EDCI is having single tendon in all the 80 specimens (100%). EDCS is absentin 22 specimens (27.5%), 13 right and 9 left limb specimens. EIP is absent in one right side specimen (1.25%). EIPis having double tendons in 10 specimens (12.5%) and triple tendons in 1 specimen (1.25%). EDM is havingdouble tendons in 60 specimens (75%).Conclusion: Many variations are seen in the arrangement of extensor tendons in this study. Variations areespecially seen in the tendons of EIP and EDM. EIP showed multiple tendons and it is absent in one limb, EDMalso had double tendons in 75% specimens.

Extensor Pollicis Longus Tendon Rupture with Concomitant Rupture of the Extensor Digitorum Communis II Tendon and Extensor Indicis Proprius after Volar Plating for Distal Radius Fracture

Extensor tendon rupture is well known complication following distal radius fracture after either conservative treatment or volar plating. However, there are not many reports in literature about concomitant ruptures of other extensor tendons. We report a case of delayed rupture of extensor pollicis longus (EPL), second extensor digitorum communis (EDC II), and extensor indicis proprius (EIP) tendons 4 weeks after volar plating for distal radius fracture. Due to the absence of EIP, EIP transfer was discouraged for EPL reconstruction. Thumb and index finger extension was restored by palmaris longus tendon graft for EPL and EDC II.

Failed Extensor Indicis Proprius Tendon Transfer for Extensor Pollicis Longus Tendon Rupture after Distal Radial Fracture

Open reduction and internal fixation using volar plating for the treatment of distal radial fractures (DRFs) is becoming an increasingly popular method. Tenosynovitis of extensor tendons causes delayed extensor pollicis longus (EPL) tendon rupture which known as complication following screw penetration of the dorsal cortex after volar plating for DRFs. As the reconstructive procedure for a closed ruptured EPL tendon in minimal displaced DRF, extensor indicis proprius (EIP) transfer is widely used. However, tendon injuries of the fourth compartment, which includes the extensor digitorum communis or EIP, can be caused by screw irritation after volar plating for DRFs. We encountered a rare case of failed EIP tendon transfer for delayed EPL tendon rupture after volar plating for a DRF. Because the EIP tendon can also be damaged by screw penetration, care must be taken to use EIP tendon for treatment of delayed EPL rupture after volar plating for DRFs.

Extensor Indicis Brevis: A Case Report / 대한정형외과학회잡지

Anatomical variations of the extensor tendon of the hand are common. However, the majority of anomalous variations are asymptomatic throughout a lifetime and are found incidentally during surgery or after trauma of the hand. The index finger has two independent extensor tendons and lower incidence of anomalous variations than other extensor tendons. We experienced a rare muscular variant of extensor indicis proprius (EIP) during a tendon reconstruction for spontaneous rupture of the 3rd and 4th extensor digitorum communis. Tendon reconstruction using EIP was planned preoperatively. However, EIP was absent and anomalous muscle known as extensor indicis brevis, which originated from the capsular ligament of the wrist and inserted into the ulnar side on the 2nd extensor digitorum communis of the extensor hood, was found. We performed tendon reconstruction using an alternative surgical procedure because extensor indicis brevis was not useful. Attention is required during tendon reconstruction because anatomical variation of EIP may affect a surgical procedure.

An Anatomic Study of the Extensor Tendons of the Human Hand

PURPOSE: Hands are the chief organs for physically manipulating the environment, using anywhere from the roughest motor skills to the finest, and since the fingertips contain some of the densest areas of nerve endings on the human body, they are continuously used organ with complex functions, and therefore, often gets injured. To prevent any functional loss, a detailed anatomical knowledge is required to have a perfect surgical treatment. Also it is necessary to have a thorough understanding of arrangements of the human extensor tendons and intertendinous connections when tenoplasty or tendon transfer is required. We performed a study of the arrangements of the human extensor tendons and the configuration of the intertendinous connections over the dorsum of the wrist and hand. METHODS: A total of 58 hands from Korean cadavers were dissected. The arrangements of extensor indicis proprius, extensor digitorum communis, and extensor digiti minimi tendons and intertendinous connections were studied. RESULTS: The most common distribution patterns of the extensor tendons of the fingers were as follows: a single extensor indicis proprius(EIP) tendon which inserted ulnar to the extensor digitorum-index(EDC-index); a single EDC-index; a single EDC-middle; a double EDC-ring; an absent EDC-little; a double extensor digiti minimi(EDM), a single EDC-index(98.3%), a single EDC-middle(62%), a double EDC-ring(50%), and an absent(65.5%) or a single (32.8%) EDC-little. A double(70.6%) EDM tendons were seen. Intertendinous connections were classified into 3 types: type 1 with thin filamentous type, type 2 with a thick filamentous type, and type 3 with a tendinous type subdivided to r shaped 3r type and y shaped 3y type. The most common patterns were type 1 in the 2nd intermetacarpal space, type 2 in the 3rd intermetacarpal space, and type 3r in the 4th intermetacarpal space. And in the present study, we observed one case of the extensor digitorum brevis manus(EDBM) on the boht side. CONCLUSION: A knowledge of both the usual and possible variations of the extensor tendon and the intertendinous connection is useful in the identification and repair of these structures.

Congenital Absence of Extensor Indicis Proprius Tendon, Bilateral: A Case Report / 대한정형외과학회잡지

The congenital absence of the extensor indicis proprius tendon was never reported but authors experienced one case of bilateral absence of the extensor indicis proprius tendon and treated by transfer of the extensor digiti quinti with good result.