Work

An accessory slip of the extensor digitorum longus to the great toe with associated osseous variations: a case report

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Accessory tendons of the extensor hallucis longus are well documented, whereas extension of the extensor digitorum longus (EDL) to the great toe has only been briefly mentioned in Sarrafian's textbook, without detailed cadaveric documentation. CASE REPORT: During routine dissection of a 78-year-old Korean male cadaver, the extensor and fibularis muscles of both lower limbs were examined. On both sides, an accessory tendinous slip of the EDL coursed medially to the great toe. The right accessory tendon arose from the posterior midportion of the EDL tendon above the talus, whereas the left tendon originated from the dorsal fascia over the proximal part of the first metatarsal. Each accessory tendon inserted into the extensor apparatus of the great toe and corresponded to a notch on the distomedial surface of the first metatarsal. CONCLUSIONS: This case provides the first detailed cadaveric documentation of a variation in which an accessory tendon of the EDL extends to the great toe. This finding broadens the understanding of known EDL variations and provides a useful reference for anatomical description.

Source: Folia Morphologica

DOI: 10.5603/fm.108429

Authors: Hyun Jin Park, Mi-Sun Hur

Institutions: Konkuk University, Daegu Catholic University

Language: English

Topic: Foot and Ankle Surgery

Subfield: Orthopedics and Sports Medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

Open Access status: diamond

Funders: National Research Foundation, National Research Foundation of Korea

Award: G8189398906