Accomplishments
Cadaveric study of variant flexor carpi ulnaris muscle
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Aim: To study the variations in the flexor carpi ulnaris muscle. Materials and Methods: 50 embalmed donated cadavers (45 males and 5 females) are dissected to study the variations in the flexor carpi ulnaris muscle in the department of Anatomy of K. J. Somaiya Medical College, Sion, Mumbai, India. 100 specimens were meticulously dissected. All the superficial flexor muscles were exposed. The humeral and ulnar heads of flexor carpi ulnaris muscle was dissected carefully. The course of ulnar artery and ulnar nerve were also dissected. The photographs of the variations were taken for proper documentation. Observations: Out of 100 specimens, 28 specimens showed the additional muscle slip of the flexor carpi ulnaris muscle. The additional belly originated from the lower part of the flexor carpi ulnaris muscle and crossed the ulnar nerve, ulnar vessels and median nerve. The additional belly merged with the flexor retinaculum and the palmaris longus muscle. In two specimens the separate ulnar and humeral heads of flexor carpi ulnaris muscle was observed. The ulnar head of flexor carpi ulnaris muscle separated ulnar artery and nerve. The humeral and ulnar heads were separated from each other by ulnar nerve. The tendons of both the heads of flexor carpi ulnaris fused with each other just before their insertion. The ulnar artery comes in contact wih ulnar nerve in the lower part of the forearm near the wrist where the two heads of flexor carpi ulnaris fused with each other. Conclusion: The awareness of additional muscle slip of the flexor carpi ulnaris is clinically important for surgeons dealing with entrapment or compressive neuropathies, orthopaedicians operating on the fractures of radius or ulna or both and plastic surgeons who are using the flexor carpi ulnaris muscle pedicle flap to improve blood supply and soft tissue coverage at the non union site of the proximal ulna for restoration of elbow function. A lack of knowledge of such type of variations might complicate s