[New flexor tendon graft of fingers using the extensor carpus radialis longus. Anatomical and clinical study]

The palmaris longus has long been used as the source of a tendinous graft for the reconstruction of finger flexor tendons with good results. There are other sources of tendons, such as the plantaris, the finger extensors, and the toe extensors and flexors. A recent descripiton includes harvesting a graft from the plantaris with a bone fragment, as a bone-tendon, to allow for a more solid distal fixation using a screw. This report describes an anatomical study of a new source of tendon graft never described before, the extensor carpus radialis longus. Its mean length is 20.5 mm (20-22 mm), its thickness is 5 x 3 mm in most of the reviewed cases. We performed finger mobility and excursion tests after fixing the tendon, with very favorable results. We recommend this tendon as a source of a tendinous graft for the hand, as it is constant, has a proper thickness, does not require preparing another surgical field and can be easily removed.