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Flexor digitorum profundus tendon rupture - zone III

Case contributed by Bahman Rasuli
Diagnosis almost certain

Presentation

Loss of flexion at the distal interphalangeal joint (DIP) of the fifth finger, following an injury playing football 1week ago.

Patient Data

Age: 17
Gender: Male

MRI images at the level of the fifth finger demonstrate the two inserting slips of the flexor digitorum superficialis with no flexor digitorum profundus tendon.

Instead edema and fluid signal are seen volar to the flexor digitorum superficialis tendon.

The sagittal and coronal images demonstrate the proximally retracted torn flexor digitorum profundus tendon surrounded by fluid at the level of the fifth metacarpal bone (zone III of the flexor tendon zones).

Case Discussion

A case illustrating a traumatic rupture of the flexor digitorum profundus of the fifth finger.

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