title: Absence of the fourth tendon of the flexor digitorum brevis muscle: a cadaveric study.
abstract: This study was undertaken to help confirm the percentages concerning the presence or absence of the flexor digitorum brevis muscle tendon to the fifth toe. We also hope to be able to determine the presence based on gender and nationality. It is known to be absent occasionally; however, there is no definitive study dedicated to its prevalence. Using a pool of 60 cadavers, 97 total feet were included in our analysis. Of these feet, 47 (48%) lacked a flexor digitorum brevis tendon to the fifth toe at all. Furthermore, 25 (26%) had notably small tendons to the fifth toe. The final 25 (26%) had what the researchers deemed present tendons. This information could be helpful in surgical planning, including tendon transfer techniques, and biomechanical evaluations. Further research would need to be conducted as this was a cadaveric study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cadaver/anatomy research, Level V.
authors.affiliation: Kent State University College of Podiatric Medicine, Independence, Ohio 44131, USA. abernha3@kent.edu
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bernhard
authors.forename: Josh
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Keeler
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Siesel
authors.forename: Evan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bridges
mesh_terms: D044383:Black People; D002102:Cadaver; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000002:abnormalities*; D013710:Tendons / Q000002:abnormalities*; D044465:White People
keywords: anatomy; fifth digit; flexor digitorum brevis; surgery; tendon