Prevalence of the absence of palmaris longus muscle tendon in the population of the eastern province of Saudi Arabia

Palmaris longus (PL) muscle is one of the most variable muscles in the human body. Racial differences in its variation are well known. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of absence of the PL and its association with gender and side in the population of eastern province, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The presence of PL was clinically determined in 200 Saudi subjects using Schaeffer’s test. Three other tests (Thompson, Pushpakumar and Mishra tests) were performed to confirm the result in subjects with an absent PL. The overall prevalence of absence of PL in the eastern province population of the Saudi Arabia was 24%. The prevalence of right, left, and bilateral absence of the PL were: 2%, 4.5%, and 17.5%, respectively. There was no significant difference in PL absence with regard to the gender and side. The prevalence of PL absence in the eastern province population of the Saudi Arabia represents more or less similar patterns reported in Arab and Pan Arab populations, but it was higher than those reported from East and West Asian populations as evident from our extensive literature review . • Palmaris longus (PL) muscle is one of the most variable muscles in the human body. • This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of absence of the PL and its association with gender and side in the population of eastern province, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. • The PL tendon is the first choice of surgeons frequently used as a graft because of its surgical adequacy.