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Accessory Extensor Pollicis Longus Tendon Incidentally Discovered During Dorsal Distal Radius Plating
Lamvy T Le1, Brandon Butcher2, Scott N Loewenstein1,2,3
1Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN.
Journal of Hand Surgery Global Online
|February 5, 2024
Summary
An accessory extensor pollicis longus tendon variation was found during wrist surgery. This rare anatomical finding highlights the importance of recognizing such variations to prevent surgical complications like tendon entrapment.
Area of Science:
- Anatomy
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Surgical Complications
Background:
- Anatomical variations of the extensor pollicis longus (EPL) tendon are infrequently encountered.
- Understanding these variations is crucial for successful dorsal wrist surgical approaches.
- Asymptomatic variations can become clinically significant when surgical interventions are performed.
Observation:
- An accessory EPL tendon was identified intraoperatively within the fourth dorsal compartment.
- The identification occurred during open repair of a distal radius fracture using a dorsal spanning plate.
- This specific variation was noted in a patient undergoing surgical fixation for a fractured distal radius.
Findings:
- A rare anatomical variation, an accessory extensor pollicis longus tendon, was discovered.
- The accessory tendon was located in the fourth dorsal compartment of the wrist.
- This finding occurred during a surgical procedure for distal radius fracture repair.
Implications:
- Failure to identify the accessory EPL tendon could lead to its entrapment under surgical hardware.
- Entrapment of the accessory EPL tendon may result in restricted thumb extension.
- Potential consequences of undetected accessory EPL tendon include tendon rupture and functional deficit.
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