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A dissection of 14 preserved and two fresh human hands, a total of 64 fingers, all
from different individuals, showed the oblique retinacular ligament to vary in completeness
and to be functionally present in only 40 to 50 percent of the specimens, except for
the ulnar side of the ring finger where it was present in over 90 percent. When present,
it was made taut by flexion of the distal phalanx, regardless of the position of the
proximal interphalangeal joint. Excision of the ligament when present, or in its absence
in these fingers, did not alter the coordinated motion of the interphalangeal joints
produced by traction on the extrinsic flexors and the lateral bands. In absence of
the ligament, a constant finding was the presence of a proximally located osteocapsular
ligament which became taut on extension of the proximal interphalangeal joint.
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Article info
Publication history
Received in revised form:
July 26,
1976
Received:
May 3,
1976
Identification
Copyright
© 1977 American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
