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Anatomical variations of the extensor tendons of the fetal thumb

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Abstract

Purpose

The extensor pollicis longus (EPL) and brevis (EPB) and abductor pollicis longus (APL) are muscles located in the posterior compartment of the forearm. These muscles allow the thumb to move independently from the other four fingers by attaching to the thumb separately. This study’s goal was to investigate the tendon variations and insertions of these muscles.

Methods

Our study was conducted on 43 fetal cadavers (86 upper extremities) aged between 17 and 40 weeks of gestation. This study investigated the tendon numbers and insertions of the EPL, EPB, and APL.

Results

The tendon numbers of the EPL and EPB were observed to range between 1 and 2, and the tendon numbers of the APL ranged between 1 and 5. The EPL was found to insert into the distal phalanx via the dorsal aponeurosis in all extremities. It was observed that the EPB tendons inserted into the proximal phalanx, distal phalanx, and dorsal aponeurosis. It was determined that the APL tendons inserted into the basis of the first metacarpal, abductor pollicis brevis, opponens pollicis, and trapezium bone.

Conclusion

Knowing the tendon variations and insertions of the EPL, EPB, and APL muscles during the fetal period will be useful in planning treatments to correct the congenital thumb anomalies and the loss of function after injury.

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Funding

This study was supported by the Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit of Süleyman Demirel University with the Project Number 5106-D1-17.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Suleyman Demirel University, 32260, Isparta, Turkey

    Kenan Öztürk, Ahmet Dursun, Yadigar Kastamoni & Soner Albay

Authors
  1. Kenan Öztürk
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  2. Ahmet Dursun
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  3. Yadigar Kastamoni
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  4. Soner Albay
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Contributions

KÖ: project development, data acquisition, manuscript draft, performed cadaver dissection. AD: data analysis, manuscript review, manuscript editing. YK: data analysis, manuscript review, manuscript editing. SA: gaining ethical approval, manuscript review, manuscript editing.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kenan Öztürk.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

Approval was obtained from the Clinical Research Ethics Committee of Süleyman Demirel University, Faculty of Medicine, for this study (Date: 11.16.2017, Decision No: 202).

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Öztürk, K., Dursun, A., Kastamoni, Y. et al. Anatomical variations of the extensor tendons of the fetal thumb. Surg Radiol Anat 43, 755–762 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-020-02611-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-020-02611-7

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