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Flexor carpi radialis brevis: a rare accessory muscle presenting as an intersection syndrome of the wrist

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Abstract

The flexor carpi radialis brevis (FCRB) is a rare accessory muscle of the forearm and wrist. It is typically asymptomatic, but has been discovered either incidentally during cadaveric studies or at the time of surgery in patients with distal forearm injury. Rarely, the FCRB muscle is associated with pain. We report a patient with wrist pain related to intersection between the tendon of the FCRB muscle and the tendon of the flexor carpi radialis (FCR) muscle, with an associated longitudinal split tear of the FCR tendon, documented by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). To our knowledge, this is only the second report in the English literature of this intersection syndrome.

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Author notes

  1. Patcharee Hongsmatip and Edward Smitaman contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Queen Savang Vadhana Memorial Hospital, 290 Jermjomphol Road Sriracha, Chonburi, 20110, Thailand

    Patcharee Hongsmatip

  2. Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, 408 Dickinson Street, Mail code 8226, San Diego, CA, 92103, USA

    Patcharee Hongsmatip, Edward Smitaman & Donald L. Resnick

  3. Clinica MEDS, Av Bernardo Larrain Cotapoz 12654 Lo Barnechea, 7701224, Santiago, Chile

    Gonzalo Delgado

Authors
  1. Patcharee Hongsmatip
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  2. Edward Smitaman
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  3. Gonzalo Delgado
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  4. Donald L. Resnick
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Correspondence to Patcharee Hongsmatip.

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Hongsmatip, P., Smitaman, E., Delgado, G. et al. Flexor carpi radialis brevis: a rare accessory muscle presenting as an intersection syndrome of the wrist. Skeletal Radiol 48, 457–460 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-018-3034-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-018-3034-1

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