Anatomic investigation of connexus intertendineus between tendons of extensor muscle in dorsum manus of fetus

This study was performed in Karadeniz Technical University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Anatomy between October, 2008 and June, 2010.In the study, 50 dorsum manus region (25 right, 25 left) of 25 fetus cadavers with intrauterine ages ranging between 18,2 and 36,1 weeks that had been embalmed in 10 % formaldehyde in the Laboratory of Anatomy Department were dissected to assess connexus intertendineus among the extensor digitorum communis tendons. Photos of dorsum manus region were taken with digital cameras. Fixed points were defined on the photos using the Microsoft Paint computer software. Connexus intertendineus?s length, width, start-ending angles and areas were measured using IMAGE-J computer software. Connexus intertendineus were investigated according to structures and shapes. They were typed and quantitative values were obtained for each intermetacarpal interval. The measurement results were statistically compared between normal and anencephalic fetuses, right and left hands, male and female fetuses in each intermetacarpal interval. There were some differences on the some parameters, which are width, start- ending angles, in the comparisons.On the dorsum manus surgery that are tendon transfers, flab repair and dorsal aponeurosis repairs in which using connexus intertendineus, the locations, traces, sizes and variations of connexus intertendineus must be well known by surgeons to prevent probable damage.