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Morphological Analysis of the Transverse Carpal Ligament

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HAND

Abstract

Transection of the transverse carpal ligament (TCL) for carpal tunnel syndrome is commonly performed, yet actual knowledge of TCL morphology is rudimentary and the anatomical terminology is inconsistently used. The purpose of this study was to perform a morphological analysis of the TCL, to redefine the anatomical terminology concerning the TCL and surrounding structures, and to evaluate any correlation between external, measurable hand dimensions, and TCL dimensions. A silicone casting technique and digitization were employed to measure the morphology of the TCL in cadaveric specimens and to construct a three-dimensional TCL model. The TCL was the thickest distally at the midline and ulnar segments and the thickest proximally at the radial segment. External hand dimensions did not significantly correlate with TCL dimensions. The TCL thickness distribution is variable along the radioulnar axis. The thickness of the TCL was 2.1 ± 0.8 mm, ranging from 1.3 to 3.0 mm.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Jie Tang and Luke Xie for their technical help and Jay Irrgang, PhD, for his assistance with statistical analysis. The authors acknowledge the support from the National Institutes Health (NIH R03AR054510), and The Pittsburgh Foundation, Albert B. Ferguson, M.D., Orthopaedic Fund.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hand Research Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, 210 Lothrop Street, BST E1641, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA

    Corey A. Pacek, Matthew Chakan, Robert J. Goitz, Robert A. Kaufmann & Zong-Ming Li

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  1. Corey A. Pacek
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  2. Matthew Chakan
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  3. Robert J. Goitz
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  4. Robert A. Kaufmann
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  5. Zong-Ming Li
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zong-Ming Li.

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Ethical statement: As this was a cadaveric study, all experimentation was performed following approval by the University of Pittsburgh Committee for Oversight of Research Involving the Dead (CORID).

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Pacek, C.A., Chakan, M., Goitz, R.J. et al. Morphological Analysis of the Transverse Carpal Ligament. HAND 5, 135–140 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11552-009-9219-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11552-009-9219-2

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