Functional anatomy of the hand: prevalence of the linburg–Comstock anomaly in a young saudi population

Abstract

Objectives: Linburg–Comstock (LC) anomaly is a developmental defect, characterized by flexion of thumb causing flexion of the index finger with pain in the wrist and forearm due to a tendinous interconnection between the flexor pollicis longus and flexor digitorum profundus. Methods: We carried out a random cross-sectional study in 2016. Undergraduate students were recruited; we excluded those with inflammation, hand or forearm trauma or surgery. Data were analyzed descriptively and categorically using Microsoft Excel and SPSS-20. Results: The study included 331individuals; 164 (49.5%) were male, and 167 (50.5%) were female, out of which 130 (39%) had LC anomaly. The mean age was 23 years (standard deviation ± 5.3). LC anomaly was found bilaterally in 43 (12.9%), in the right hand in 51 (15.4%) and in the left hand in 35 (10.5%). It was found bilaterally in females in 17 (10.1%) participants, and in males in 26 (15.8%), P = 0.37. The right-hand dominance was found in 294 (89%) versus left-hand in 37 (11%). Conclusion: The prevalence of LC anomaly was 39%, which matches with the global prevalence, the males showed slightly more prevalence of bilateral LC anomaly. The right-hand dominance was found in 89% as opposed to 11% having left-hand dominance.