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Flexor carpi radialis tendinopathy: spectrum of imaging findings and association with triscaphe arthritis

Skeletal Radiology volume 35, pages 572–578 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective

To present the spectrum of pathology affecting the flexor carpi radialis (FCR), and its anatomical, functional and clinical relationship with conditions affecting the triscaphe or scapho–trapezium–trapezoid (STT) compartment, and particularly osteoarthritis.

Design

The study comprised two men and four women aged between 23 and 79 years (mean age, 49 years). Two musculoskeletal radiologists in consensus evaluated MRI findings.

Results

Five of the patients showed evidence of triscaphe osteoarthritis. One of the patients showed synovitis and reactive marrow edema at the triscaphe joint without more specific findings of osteoarthritis. Five patients showed evidence of FCR tenosynovitis. Partial-thickness tears were noted in three patients. Two patients showed complete discontinuity of the FCR; one of them had undergone prior tendon harvesting for interposition arthroplasty after trapezectomy. One patient showed a ganglion cyst in connection to the FCR tendon sheath.

Conclusion

The FCR tendon courses over the volar surfaces of the scaphoid and trapezium in a separate fibro-osseous tunnel. This anatomical and functional relationship explains the coexistence of FCR tendinopathy and STT arthritis demonstrated by MR imaging.

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Author information

Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, DII - Diagnostic Imaging, Inc., Frankford Hopitals - Torresdale Campus, Red Lion and Knights Roads, Philadelphia, PA, 19114, USA

    Antoni J. Parellada, Sean B. Reiter, Linda A. Kloss & Peter L. Glickman

  2. Thomas Jefferson University, 111 South 11th Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA

    William B. Morrison

  3. Harvard Medical School, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    John A. Carrino

  4. Northeast Orthopedic Specialists, The Muscle, Bone & Joint Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Matthew McLean

  5. The Philadelphia Hand Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Randall W. Culp

Authors
  1. Antoni J. Parellada
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  2. William B. Morrison
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  3. Sean B. Reiter
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  4. John A. Carrino
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  5. Linda A. Kloss
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  6. Peter L. Glickman
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  7. Matthew McLean
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  8. Randall W. Culp
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Antoni J. Parellada.

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Parellada, A.J., Morrison, W.B., Reiter, S.B. et al. Flexor carpi radialis tendinopathy: spectrum of imaging findings and association with triscaphe arthritis. Skeletal Radiol 35, 572–578 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-006-0116-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-006-0116-2

Keywords

  • Tendon
  • Wrist
  • Magnetic resonance imaging
  • Triscaphe
  • Joint
  • Osteoarthritis