Morphologic assessment of the tendon graft donor sites: palmaris longus, plantaris, tensor fascia lata.

The purpose of this study is to compare and measure the tendon graft donor sites and to predict the sizes of these tendons preoperatively. Seventeen cadavers were included in the study. The morphologic evaluation of the palmaris longus (n = 29), plantaris (n = 32), and tensor fascia lata (n = 34) tendons were done. The length of the forearm, leg, and thigh and the width of the wrist, ankle, and knee joints were noted. The length, width, and the thickness of the tendons were measured. Degree of association between measurements was calculated by Pearson's correlation coefficient. We found statistically significant correlation between the length of the extremities and the length of the muscle tendons, and we formulated these correlations. The correlation between the length or width of the extremity and the tendon to be harvested could be designated as the ratios presented, and this could ease the preoperative planning at the craniofacial and other areas of surgery.