Study of ten anatomical variants of the foot and ankle

Abstract

This study examined the occurrence rate of ten lower extremity anatomical variants occurring over a 6-year period from 1988 to 1994 in a sample range of 166 to 279 cadavers at the University of Osteopathic Medicine and Health Sciences. Literature review of these anomalies shows similar findings for all presented structures with the exception of two. The peroneus quartus muscle was found to be significantly less prevalent than previous studies have indicated. This difference may be attributed to the larger sample size used in this study or differences of interpretation of the definition of the peroneus quartus muscle. Additionally, the flexor digitorum brevis tendon to the fifth digit was found to be absent much more than Sarrafian reports in a total sample size of 926. The importance of these anatomical variants, both in surgery and while using advanced diagnostic imaging such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, should be realized by the podiatric physician. Awareness of these variants will decrease confusion when considering treatment options.

An Anatomical Study Of The Musculus Flexor Digitorum Brevis

“…The absence of flexor digitorum brevis tendon slip to the fifth toe was stated as the commonest anatomical variation of this muscle [5,[7][8][9][10][11][12]. In contrast with the findings in the present study, it is interesting to note, that the incidence of absence of flexor digitorum brevis slip to the little toe was reported as 21% [4] ,100% [5], 63% [7], 18% [10] among different study populations.…”

Flexor Digitorum Longus Muscle — an Unusual Presentation; Anatomy and Clinical Significance, A case report

“…Variations in FDB have been reported to occur in 63.0% of all limbs (2). Though absence of FDB tendon to the fifth toe was reported by Chaney et al (3). and Sarrafian (4), in the present study we observed that FDB tendon to the fifth toe was entirely missing in right foot but normal on left side.…”

On the Variations of the Muscle Flexor Digitorum Brevis: Anatomical Insight

“…Variation in this muscle occurs in 63% of foots (Bergman et al, 1988). Some of its' reported anomalies have been manifested as the absence of tendon to the little toe (Nathan & Globe, 1974;Bergman et al;Chaney et al,1996;Claassen & Wree, 2003;Yalçin & Ozan, 2005;Lobo et al, 2008;Becerro de Bengoa Vallejo et al, 2008), presence of a deep head arising from the flexor digitorum longus which either joins the main muscle or proceeds as a separate tendon to the little toe (Bergman et al), it is present but ends in fascia, failing to reach the toe, it arises separately from the fibular band of the plantar aponuerosis and presence of supernumerary slips (Rosse & Gaddum-Rosse).…”