Insights with consensus on Abductor Pollicis Longus from the Central Indian population at Nagpur, Maharashtra

Abstract

The anatomical snuff box is bounded laterally by the Abductor pollicis longus (APL) and the Extensor pollicis brevis (EPB) tendons. The variation in insertion of extensor tendons at the forearm and wrist is an interesting phenomenon. Therefore, a sound knowledge of such variations in extensor tendons is essential to know the consequence of tendon injury during implementation of its repair. Hence, we studied 48 formaldehyde fixed forearms of Indian-origin cadavers with age groups ranging from 33 to 67 years from the Central Indian population at Nagpur, Maharashtra, India. Variation in the insertion of APL was checked by tracing the tendon till its insertion. APL muscle was found with single tendon in 20 forearms, double in 9, triple in 8 and quadruple in 5 and five (maximum) in 6 forearms. In 93% (n=45), the APL tendon was inserted into the first metacarpal bone and in 7% (n=03), it was inserted into the trapezium bone. No variation was noted in the EPB tendon. Data shows that there are accessory slips in the APL tendon, differing from the standard description. Thus, data provides awareness of such potential variation among operating surgeons for better management of the diseased during dissection.