Flexor digitorum superficialis--revisited

Flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) is a median nerve innervated forearm muscle, and is usually available for transfer in palsied hands because of leprosy. Middle and ring finger FDS tendons have been preferably used in these procedures. The removal of FDS from fingers, to be used as motor elsewhere, has its own advantages and disadvantages. Many people think of FDS as four, more or less independent, muscles that may lead to problems when these tendons are used for non-synergistic transfers. Central to FDS muscle mass in forearm is a large flat common tendon that connects a single proximal muscle belly to two or three separate distal muscles, thus forming a complex digastric muscle. The muscle to middle finger tendon is totally independent. The anatomy of FDS muscle, functional capabilities of FDS tendons in different fingers, and the effects of removal of tendon from fingers have been discussed in the present article.