The anatomy of the tendon of abductor pollicis longus and its morphological variations: An anatomical approach emphasizing the clinical relevance Article

Full Text via DOI: 10.1016/j.aanat.2023.152068 Web of Science: 000990553100001

Cited authors

  • Mari-Gorreto J, San-Millan M, Carrera A, Tubbs RS, Iwanaga J, Cateura A, Acquabona L, Reina MA, Reina F

Abstract

  • Purpose: The anatomical literature describes the abductor pollicis longus as a muscle with a single tendon inserting on the base of the first metacarpal bone, but investigations have shown that it often exhibits morphological variations. However, methodological approaches used to describe these variations have not been useful in a clinical context. Therefore, the purpose of this investigation was to study and relate such anatomical variations in a clinical context. Basic procedures: Thirty upper limbs from the body donation program were dissected using standard procedures to identify the number of abductor pollicis longus (APL) tendons, their position, site of insertion, length, width and thickness. The presence or absence of the extensor pollicis brevis muscle was also noted. Inter and intra-observer reliability was analysed. Main findings: A total number of 71 tendons from the APL muscle were found in the thirty limbs. The most frequent distribution pattern was a main tendon inserted on the base of the first metacarpal and an ac-cessory tendon inserted into the abductor pollicis brevis muscle. These tendons could divide into various tendinous slips that could insert in different locations. Also, clustering algorithms and classical statistical tests showed tendons inserting on the first metacarpal were longer than tendons not inserting on the first metacarpal (p = 0.03), while medial tendons and tendons from an APL muscle with supernumerary tendons were narrower (p < 0.001). The absence of the extensor pollicis brevis muscle was not related to the presence of supernumerary APL tendons. Conclusions: Radiological and surgical implications of these results are important when examining this region of the hand and wrist. The pathophysiology and treatment of de Quervain's tenosynovitis, trapeziometacarpal arthritis and trapeziometacarpal subluxation or laxity could be influenced by the results of our findings. (c) 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier GmbH. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Publication date

  • 2023

Published in

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0940-9602

Number of pages

  • 10

Volume

  • 247