How often absence of palmaris longus and functional deficiencyof flexor digitorum superficialis occurs ?

This study was designed to find a possible correlation between the presence of the palmaris longus and function of the fifth flexor digitorum superficialis. We examined 300 participants to assess the absence of palmaris longus and flexor digitorum superficialis function by several clinical tests. Overall absence of palmaris longus, was seen in 157 participants (52.3%). Overall deficiency of flexor digitorum superficialis was noted in 100 participants (33.3%). In 15 participants (5%) we noted bilateral absence of palmaris longus and flexor digitorum superficialis deficiency. Five participants (1.7%) had unilateral absence of palmaris longus and flexor digitorum superficialis deficiency on the same, left or right hand. Bilaterally presence of these muscles we noted in 95 participants (31.7%). We believe that there is no connection between absent palmaris longus and absent function of flexor digitorum superficialis. We found a much higher prevalence of muscles absence individually and jointly than in other studies.