Prevalence of agenesis of palmaris longus muscle and its association with gender, body side, handedness and other anomalies of the forearm in a student population in Ghana

Abstract

Palmaris longus (PL) muscle is one of the most variable anatomical entities in the human body and its absence (agenesis) is a frequent anatomical variation, the prevalence of which varies in different populations. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of agenesis of PL in a Ghanaian population sample and to verify its association with sex, handedness, body side and neighboring anomalies such as functional absence of flexor digitorium superficialis (FDS) to the little finger and anomalous superficial palmar arch (SPA). The prevalence of agenesis of PL was determined using the standard technique; in subjects with an absent PL, four other tests were done to confirm the absence. All 210 subjects were examined for the presence of flexor digitorium superficialis (FDS) to the little finger. An Allen’s test was done to assess the palmer arches. The overall prevalence of agenesis of PL was 3.8% with no significant difference (p>0.05) in terms of sex, body side and handedness. However, unilateral absence on the right side was more common (p=0.0302) in females. None of the subjects with absent PL had a concomitant absence of FDS to the little or anomalous superficial palmer arch or both. The prevalence of agenesis of PL in the Ghanaian population is much lower than values coated in standard textbooks of surgery. Also, it seems that the prevalence of agenesis of PL is independent of body side, handedness and neighbouring anomalies like functional loss of FDS to the little finger and anomalous SPA.