ARCADE OF FLEXOR DIGITORUM SUPERFICIALIS MUSCLE: ANATOMICAL STUDY AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Objective: The arcade of the flexor digitorum superficialis muscle (FDS) is an anatomical structure which has not yet been widely studied and is a site of nerve compression. The aim of this study was to analyze the arcade of the FDS muscle and its relations with the median and anterior interosseous nerves through anatomic dissections. Method: Fifty arms from 25 adult cadavers (21 males and 4 females) were dissected; 18 were previously preserved in formalin and glycerin and 7 fresh specimens were dissected in the Laboratory of Anatomy. Resultados: Identificamos a arcada do musculo flexor superficial em todos os membros dissecados. As cabecas radial e umeral estavam presentes em todos os antebracos e a cabeca ulnar foi encontrada em 16 (32%). Identificamos dois tipos de arcada, arcada fibrosa em 32 (64%) antebracos e arcada muscular em 11 (22%). Em quatro especimes (8%), a arcada tinha constituicao muito fina, sendo possivel visualizar o nervo por transparencia em seu interior. Em tres antebracos, consideramos a arcada irregular, pois havia descontinuidade entre as fibras que a formavam. Conclusion: The fibrous arcade of the FDS muscle may be a potential cause of nerve compression of the median and interosseous anterior nerves. Level of Evidence IV; Case series.