Variations in forearm tendons – A clinical-anatomical guide

Anatomical variations of the muscles and tendons of the forearm and hand are both common and significant in daily clinical practice. The flexor muscles, specifically the palmaris longus (PL) and flexor carpi radialis (FCR), are frequently utilized in reconstructive procedures for ruptured tendons and torn ligaments.¹ Examples of such procedures include the reconstruction of flexor tendons, the ulnar collateral ligament, and the dorsal scapholunate ligament in cases of scapholunate dissociation.^2–4

The presence of different tendon variations can complicate tendon harvesting and potentially compromise the success of the procedure. Additionally, the variability in the anatomical structures around the PL and FCR tendons can pose risks to neurovascular structures during surgery, thereby necessitating careful preoperative planning and precise surgical techniques to avoid complications.