Sebastin Sandeep J, Lim Aymeric Y T
Department of Hand and Reconstructive Microsurgery, National University Hospital, Singapore.
Ann Acad Med Singap. 2006 Apr;35(4):249-53.
Ethnic variations in the prevalence of absence of the palmaris longus (PL) are well known. Many techniques for clinically determining the presence of the PL have been described. Studies have also attempted to correlate its absence with other anatomical anomalies. However, most studies have been done in Caucasian populations.
The presence of the PL was clinically determined in 329 normal Chinese men and women using the standard technique. In subjects with an absent PL, 4 other tests were performed to confirm absence and an Allen's test was done to assess the palmar arches. All subjects were examined for the presence of the flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) to the little finger.
The overall prevalence of absence of the PL was 4.6%. All techniques were equally effective in determining the absence of the PL. There was no significant difference in its absence with regard to the body side or sex. Absolute deficiency of FDS to the little finger was seen in 6.4%. No correlation could be detected between the absence of the PL and FDS of the little finger.
The prevalence of absence of the PL and absence of FDS to the little finger in a Chinese population is much lower compared to previous reports in the literature. There is no association between absence of the PL and absence of the FDS to the little finger. Although all techniques of examining for the absence of the PL are equally effective, the method suggested by Mishra seems the best as it was easily understood by subjects and can be used even when thumb abduction is not possible.
掌长肌缺如的患病率存在种族差异，这是众所周知的。已经描述了许多临床上确定掌长肌是否存在的技术。研究还试图将其缺如与其他解剖异常相关联。然而，大多数研究是在白种人群体中进行的。
采用标准技术对329名中国正常男性和女性进行掌长肌存在情况的临床测定。对于掌长肌缺如的受试者，进行另外4项检查以确认缺如情况，并进行艾伦试验以评估掌弓。所有受试者均接受检查，以确定小指的指浅屈肌是否存在。
掌长肌缺如的总体患病率为4.6%。所有技术在确定掌长肌缺如方面同样有效。其缺如在身体两侧或性别方面无显著差异。小指指浅屈肌绝对缺如的情况见于6.4%。未发现掌长肌缺如与小指指浅屈肌之间存在相关性。
与文献中先前的报道相比，中国人群中掌长肌缺如和小指指浅屈肌缺如的患病率要低得多。掌长肌缺如与小指指浅屈肌缺如之间无关联。虽然所有检查掌长肌缺如的技术同样有效，但米什拉建议的方法似乎是最好的，因为受试者很容易理解，而且即使在拇指不能外展时也可以使用。
