Ravindra S Swamy

Analysis of the morphometry and variations in the extensor digitorum brevis muscle: an anatomic guide for muscle flap and tendon transfer surgical dissection

The extensor digitorum brevis muscle (EDB) is a practical option for use as an island flap or free flap when reconstructing soft tissue defects in the ankle as well as in the entire lower limb. It is frequently used to correct crossover toe deformity and other painful toe disorders. We evaluated the morphometry of the EDB in 44 formalin-fixed limbs. Length and width of the muscles were measured. Surface area was calculated as the product of length and width of the muscle. The length of each tendon was also measured from its origin to the point of distal attachment. Presence of any additional tendons was noted. Mean length, width, and surface area of the muscle were 7.39±0.71 cm, 4.1±0.37 cm, and 30.5±4.78 cm2 on the right side and 7.2±0.84 cm, 3.9±0.37 cm, and 28.4±5.35 cm2 on the left side, respectively. Morphometry of the tendons revealed that the tendon of the great toe had the highest mean length (9.5 cm) and the tendon of the fourth toe had the lowest mean length (6.3 cm). Four of the limbs studied (9.09%) had only three tendons. Three of the limbs studied (6.81%) had five tendons, and in one exceptional case (2.27%), six tendons were detected. These observations have significant value and are applicable to plastic and orthopedic surgery.

Absence of retromandibular vein associated with atypical formation of external jugular vein in the parotid region.

Veins of the head and neck exhibiting anatomical variations or malformations are clinically significant. Anatomical variation in the external jugular vein is very common. However, anatomical variation in the retromandibular vein is rare. In this paper, we report a rare case of complete absence of the retromandibular vein. In the absence of the retromandibular vein, the maxillary vein divided into anterior and posterior divisions. The posterior division joined the superficial temporal vein to form an atypical external jugular vein, and the anterior division joined the facial vein to form an anonymous vein. In clinical practice, radiologists and surgeons use the retromandibular vein as a guide to expose the branches of the facial nerve during superficial parotidectomy. Therefore, absence of the retromandibular vein is a hurdle during this procedure and may affect the venous drainage pattern from the head and neck.

Atypical Arterial Supply to the Spleen by Polar Branches of Splenic Artery and Accessory Splenic Artery – A Case Report

Vascular anomalies of the spleen are usually asymptomatic. However, variant anatomy of splenic artery becomes clinically important, when the patients undergo diagnostic angiography for gastrointestinal bleeding or during transcatheter therapy. We report here a concurrent variant arterial pattern of the spleen. The splenic artery was unusually elongated and excessively tortuous. Prior to its normal termination into segmental arteries, it gave superior and inferior polar arteries which entered the spleen distal to corresponding ends of the splenic hilum. In addition to this, the spleen also received an additional blood supply from an accessory splenic artery arising from left gastro-epiploic artery. The accessory splenic artery entered the substance of the spleen through its lateral end. Presence of such kind of concurrent variant arterial pattern of spleen makes the surgeons obligatory to have prior knowledge to prevent bleeding during any surgical or radiological interventional procedures targeting the spleen, pancreas etc.

Bifurcated Bicipital Aponeurosis Giving Origin to Flexor and Extensor Muscles of the Forearm – A Case Report

Bicipital aponeurosis is usually attached to the antebrachial fascia on the medial side of forearm and to posterior border of ulna assisting in the supination of the forearm along with biceps brachii muscle. Variations in the bicipital aponeurosis may lead to neurovascular compression as reported earlier. In the present case, the bicipital aponeurosis had two slips i.e. medial and lateral. Medial slip gave origin to some fibers of pronator teres and flexor carpi radialis and the lateral slip gave origin to some fibers of brachioradialis. Such unusual slips of bicipital aponeurosis may distribute the stress concentration and may work in different directions affecting the supination of forearm by biceps brachii muscle and bicipital aponeurosis.

Unilateral double great saphenous vein: A clinically significant case report

Great saphenous vein (GSV) is the longest vein in the body originating from the dorsum of the foot at medial malleolus to the level of groin skin crease. It is one among the clinically significant superficial veins of the lower limb. Double or duplication of GSV is considered to be one of its rarest variant forms, which might be often mistaken with the accessory saphenous vein. The overall incidence of duplicated GSV is reported to be 1%. We report herein, a unilateral duplication of GSV with its morphological and clinical perspectives. The major clinical complication that is often encountered from its duplication is recurrent incompetence of the GSV, which predisposes varicosity. Therefore, a thorough knowledge of venous anatomy is important for clinicians and sonographers.

Presence of communication between radial and ulnar nerve at high humeral level and its distribution to triceps brachii muscle

Unusual communications between the branches of brachial plexus is not uncommon phenomenon. But among these, aberrant interconnection between radial and ulnar nerve is seldom reported. We present a case of persistence of well established abnormal communication between radial and ulnar nerves and its distribution to medial head of the triceps brachii muscle. Due to this, the triceps brachii which is normally innervated by radial nerve received additional innervations from the twigs of ulnar nerve through this communication. Aberrant communicating nervous channels when persist are vulnerable to iatrogenic injuries during surgical procedures as well as might results in entrapment neuropathic syndromes.

Tunnel for ligamentum teres: a rare variation of the liver

Introduction Ligamentum teres hepatis, an embryological remnant derived from the obliterated left umbilical vein is lodged on the fissure for the ligamentum teres on the inferior surface of the liver. We report here an anomalous case where the ligament passed through a tunnel instead of a fissure. Case report The fissure for ligamentum teres was obliterated by bridging of liver tissue across the quadrate and left lobes. This bridging converted the fissure into a tunnel through which ligamentum teres coursed to its destination. A small fissure extended from the left end of porta hepatis to this tunnel. Lack of separation of lobes, in the early embryonic period might have led to this variation. Conclusion Anomalies like this can often mislead the radiologists or surgeons either in diagnosis or interpretations of liver diseases.

Bilateral additional slips of triceps brachii forming osseo-musculo-fibrous tunnels for ulnar nerves

Rare additional slips of triceps brachii muscle was found bilaterally in a sixty two year old South Indian male cadaver during routine dissection of upper limb for undergraduate students at Melaka-Manipal Medical College, Manipal University, Manipal, India. On left side, the variant additional muscle slip took origin from the lower part of the medial intermuscular septum about 4 cm proximal to the medial humeral epicondyle. From its origin, the muscle fibres were passing over the ulnar nerve and were joining the triceps muscle to get inserted to the upper surface of olecranon process of ulna. On right side, the additional muscle slip was larger and bulkier and was arising from the lower part of the medial border of the humerus about 4 cm proximal to the medial epicondyle in addition to its attachment to the medial intermuscular septum. On both sides, the additional slips were supplied by twigs from the radial nerve. On both sides, the ulnar nerve was passing between variant additional slip and the lower part of the shaft of the humerus in an osseo-musculo-fibrous tunnel. Such variant additional muscle slips may affect the function of triceps muscle and can lead to snapping of medial head of triceps and ulnar nerve over medial epicondyle and also can dynamically compress the ulnar nerve during the contraction of triceps leading to ulnar neuropathy around the elbow.

Unusual Branching Pattern of Axillary Artery Associated with the High Origin of Ulnar Artery

Axillary artery is a continuation of subclavian artery, extending from the outer border of first rib to the lower border of teres major muscle. During routine dissection for the undergraduate medical students, a rare variations was seen in an approximately 55-year-old male cadaver. This case showed a variation in branching pattern of right axillary and subscapular arteries. The subscapular artery originated from 2nd part of axillary artery, gave origin to posterior circumflex humeral and lateral thoracic arteries in addition to its normal branches. The ulnar artery originated from the 3rd part of the axillary artery, just above the lower border of teres major muscle. The variant ulnar artery passed deep to the median cubital vein, bicipital aponeurosis, and tendon of palmaris longus muscle. Then, it passed superficial to flexor digitorum superficialis muscle and flexor retinaculum to enter the palm. In the palm, it formed the superficial palmar arch. This variant ulnar artery was much smaller in caliber than the radial artery.

Bifurcated great saphenous vein: a report on its therapeutic and diagnostic perspectives

The great saphenous vein (GSV) is the longest superficial vein in the body extending from the medial malleolus to groin skin crease level. The clinical usage of GSV has made its anatomical variations noteworthy. Since many tributaries accompany it, GSV is often mistaken with the variant vein. Duplication and persistence of accessory GSV are the two major clinically significant anatomical variations of the GSV which is frequently misinterpreted as a synonym. In the present case, we report a unique variation of GSV wherein it bifurcated into anterior and posterior divisions of two uneven calibers at knee region, which then reunited at thigh region to form a single vein before its termination into the femoral vein. Locating such variations of bifurcated GSV is a challenging task for both diagnostic and therapeutic tactics, particularly in venography procedures as it might lead to iatrogenic traumatic injury of the vessel.