Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Flexor carpi radialis brevis: case report of a symptomatic tear

  • Case Report
  • Published:
Skeletal Radiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Anatomical variants of muscle are commonly encountered by surgeons and radiologists. The flexor carpi radialis brevis (FCRB) is an anomalous muscle in the distal forearm with an estimated prevalence of 2–8%. In the literature, there are a few case reports of symptomatic FCRB tenosynovitis without a concomitant tear, and treatment methods described include both conservative and surgical management. We present a case of one patient with radial sided wrist pain and a partial FCRB tear, which to our knowledge is the first case report of a symptomatic FCRB tear. We also review existing literature regarding FCRB anatomy, particularly related to intra-operative dissection and exposure. Identification of an anomalous FCRB on imaging may serve to guide clinicians in their differential diagnosis of radial-sided wrist pain, in which FCRB pathological conditions ought to be included.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Lee YM, Song SW, Sur YJ, Ahn CY. Flexor carpi radialis brevis: an unusual anomalous muscle of the wrist. Clin Orthop Surg. 2014;6(3):361–4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Kang L, Carter T, Wolfe SW. The flexor carpi radialis brevis muscle: an anomalous flexor of the wrist and hand. A case report. J Hand Surg Am. 2006;31(9):1511–3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Nakahashi T, Ryutaro I. Anomalous interconnection between flexor and extensor carpi radialis brevis tendons. Anat Rec. 1987;218:94–7.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Chong SJ, Al-Ani S, Pinto C, Peat B. Bilateral flexor carpi radialis brevis and unilateral flexor carpi ulnaris brevis muscle: case report. J Hand Surg Am. 2009;34(10):1868–71.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Mimura T, Uchiyama S, Hayashi M, Uemura K, Moriya H, Kato H. Flexor carpi radialis brevis muscle: a case report and its prevalence in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. J Orthop Sci. 2017;22(6):1026–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Dodds SD. A flexor carpi radialis brevis muscle with an anomalous origin on the distal radius. J Hand Surg Am. 2006;31(9):1507–10.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Mantovani G, Lino W Jr, Fukushima WY, Cho AB, Aita MA. Anomalous presentation of flexor carpi radialis brevis: a report of six cases. J Hand Surg Eur Vol. 2010;35(3):234–5.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Lee RK, Griffith JF, Ng AW, Wong CW. Imaging of radial wrist pain. I. Imaging modalities and anatomy. Skeletal Radiol. 2014;43(6):713–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Lok RL, Griffith JF, Ng AW, Wong CW. Imaging of radial wrist pain. II. Pathology. Skeletal Radiol. 2014;43(6):725–43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Smith J, Kakar S. Combined flexor carpi radialis tear and flexor carpi radialis brevis tendinopathy identified by ultrasound: a case report. PM R. 2014;6(10):956–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Chung KC, Shauver MJ, Birkmeyer JD. Trends in the United States in the treatment of distal radial fractures in the elderly. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2009;91:1868–73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Kosiyatrakul A, Luenam S, Prachaporn S. Symptomatic flexor carpi radialis brevis: case report. J Hand Surg Am. 2010;35(4):633–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Peers SC, Kaplan FT. Flexor carpi radialis brevis muscle presenting as a painful forearm mass: case report. J Hand Surg Am. 2008;33(10):1878–81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Carleton A. Flexor carpi radialis brevis vel profundus. J Anat. 1935;69(Pt 2):292–3.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  15. Laugharne E, Power D. Surgical exposure of the distal radius in a patient with a flexor carpi radialis brevis muscle anomaly. J Surg Case Rep. 2010;2010(1):1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This study was funded by grant I01CX001388 of the VA Clinical Science Research and Development Service.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Plastic Surgery, University of California San Diego, 200 West Arbor Drive, San Diego, CA, 92103-8890, USA

    Anthony M. Kordahi

  2. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California San Diego, 200 West Arbor Drive, San Diego, CA, 92103-8894, USA

    Kara L. Sarrel & Sameer B. Shah

  3. Radiology Service, Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, 3350 La Jolla Village Drive, San Diego, CA, 92161, USA

    Eric Y. Chang

Authors
  1. Anthony M. Kordahi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kara L. Sarrel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Sameer B. Shah
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Eric Y. Chang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kara L. Sarrel.

Ethics declarations

Conflicts of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Anthony M Kordahi and Kara L Sarrel Denotes as co-first authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kordahi, A.M., Sarrel, K.L., Shah, S.B. et al. Flexor carpi radialis brevis: case report of a symptomatic tear. Skeletal Radiol 47, 1705–1708 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-018-2971-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-018-2971-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation