Digastric morphology of flexor digitorum superficialis muscle: anatomic study basis for a myotendinous lengthening technique.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study is to delineate the anatomical characteristics of the intermediate tendon of the flexor digitorum superficialis, with a view to evaluating the feasibility of performing a myotendinous lengthening procedure on this tendon.

METHODS

A total of 14 cryopreserved cadavers were utilized. In order to perform myotendinous lengthening, it was considered important to record the following variables: the presence of intermediate tendon, the morphology of the intermediate tendon, the amplitude of the intermediate tendon, the amplitude of the musculature contiguous to the tendon, the muscle thickness overlying the intermediate tendon, the presence of origin in the proximal fascia and the pennation angle. To allow visualization of the pennation angle, the anatomical specimens were preserved in 2% formaldehyde solution.

RESULTS

All specimens exhibited an intermediate tendon suggesting the digastric morphology of the flexor digitorum superficialis. All specimens exhibited an origin in the proximal fascia. The mean amplitude at the mid-measurement point of the intermediate tendon of the 14 specimens is 7.94 ± 2.65 mm. At this point, the mean muscle amplitude is 23.6 ± 5.79 mm, indicating that the intermediate tendon overlaps 33.9% of the muscle belly amplitude in the coronal plane. With regard to the thickness of the muscle overlying the midpoint between the tendon fiber convergence zones, the mean of the measurements recorded is 6.24 ± 1.66 mm. The pennation angles for the index finger were 24.86° and 13.93° for proximal and distal fibers respectively, while the mean angle for the little finger was 1.21°.

CONCLUSION

The analysis of the morphology of the flexor digitorum superficialis suggests that this is a digastric muscle with an intermediate tendon that has the characteristics to be a candidate for sliding or tenotomy for myotendinous lengthening, considering the potential loss of strength that may result.