A study of the orientation of the fibers of the flexor carpi radialis tendon: Anatomy and clinical applications

The authors report a series of 41 dissections of the forearm intended to study the orientation of the fibers of the flexor carpi radialis (FCR). This shows that there is a constant torsion of the fibers of the FCR by an average of 180°. Half of this torsion occurs in the forearm and half in the sheath of the FCR at wrist level. Awareness of this torsion is particularly useful surgically when the tendon is employed in ligamentoplasty, particularly after trapeziectomy. Our study of the orientation of the fibers was aimed at the ability to perform subcutaneous splitting of the fibers for use of part of the tendon.