Background & Aims: The PLANTARIS muscle is located in the superficial posterior compartment of the leg and is absent in some individuals. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the absence variation of PLANTARIS muscle and its possible relation with Palmaris longus and fifth superficial flexor digitorum of the hand.Methods: 83 fresh cadavers, referred to legal medicine center, Kerman, Iran from April 2010 to November 2011 were enrolled in the study. Dissection was performed using mini incisions and the results were recorded in a questionnaire including presence or absence, length and width of the PLANTARIS and Palmaris longus TENDONs, and the presence or absence of the fifth superficial flexor. The suitability of the Palmaris and PLANTARIS TENDONs was assessed using the previously described criteria and according to the criteria that are proposed by us.Results: 8 of the 83 cadavers showed variations. PLANTARIS TENDON was present in 80 (96.3%) and absent in 3 (3.7%), of which was absent bilaterally in two (2.3%) and unilaterally in one (1.2%).6 cadavers (7.2%) were deficient in Palmaris longus TENDON, 4 bilateral (4.8%) and 2 (2.3%) unilateral. Bilateral absence of fifth flexor digitorum superficialis was observed in 2 cadavers (2.3%) and one showed unilateral absence (1.2%).There was no statistically significant relationship (p<0.05) among the presence of Palmaris longus, PLANTARIS and fifth superficial flexor. The PLANTARIS TENDON by far showed better characteristics for graft than the Palmaris TENDON.Conclusion: According to the results of the present study, considering the PLANTARIS TENDON for graft harvest seems logic, noting its high percentage of presence and better characteristics.

Background: Flexor TENDON rupture is a common traumatic event that is treated with surgery. Delay in reconstruction can reduce the chances of successful treatment even the surgeon is forced to choose fuse surgery. Case Report: The study case was a 9-year-old girl who presented after months of traumatic injury with severe deformity of index finger and shortened flexor digitorum profundus (FDP). Although there was no suitable TENDON, a PLANTARIS TENDON graft was prepared from her left leg. After one year, the range of motion (ROM) in the left hand was normal beyond expectation. Conclusion: Single-stage TENDON graft repair surgery even in chronic cases with shortened TENDON and severe deformity is a good method which is recommended for similar patients, especially in children.

The TENDON is a firm fibrous band of connective tissue that connects muscle to bone. This structure has the ability to transfer mechanical forces resulting from muscle contraction to the skeletal system. Tendinitis is a general term, often used to describe painful TENDON situations due to constant stretching, overuse, degeneration, or poor TENDON biomechanism. Tendinopathy is often the result of useless attempts by the body to regenerate a TENDON, which a pathological conflict has led to a malfunction. Various treatments have been used to manage TENDON disorders. Stem cells are divided into two categories. Embryonic cells (which are very potential but due to ethical considerations, limited studies have been done on them) and postnatal cells. Postnatal cells are divided into two categories, which include,Hematopoietic stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells. Mesenchymal stem cells have the ability to differentiate into multiple cells, including tenocytes, chondrocytes, and fibroblasts. these cells are a potential alternative to treating TENDON lesions. This article presentan overview of the structure, biomechanics and disorders of TENDON and, while pointing to the common therapies today, introduces stem cells, retrospective studies and possibility of using these cells in the optimal treatment of TENDON disorders.

Among the flexor TENDONs in the horse's limbs, the superficial digital flexor TENDON is more prone to damage than the deep digital flexor TENDON. SDF TENDONitis is a common injury in event horses. Recovery of superficial digital flexor TENDON (SDFT) injuries is slow, but re-injury is likely. SDF TENDON injuries are more common in the forelimb. Flexor TENDON injuries are due to strain on the TENDON or a direct trauma. TENDON damage vary from inflammation and pain to complete rupture of the TENDON. Injuries caused by strain are associated with swelling that require ultrasound assessment to confirm the diagnosis. Treatment for these injuries includes anti-inflammatory treatment, which is initially followed by a rehabilitation program. In cases where drug treatment is not responsive, surgical procedures including TENDON splitting and superior check ligament desmotomy can be used. In this study, we briefly review the TENDONitis of the superficial digital flexor TENDON, etiology, clinical signs, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.

Background: Large defects in chronic Achilles TENDON ruptures are difficult to rapair. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical and functional outcomes following reconstruction of the chronic large gaps in Achilles TENDON ruture using free semitendinosus interposition TENDON grafting.Methods: In a case series study, eleven male patients with mean age of 30±4 years and average defect size of 8.31±1.96 cm in their old Achilles TENDON underwent reconstruction during 6 years in a teaching hospital in Tehran-Iran. Ipsilateral semitendinosus free TENDON graft was used for reconstruction. The cases were evaluated by Ankle-Hindfoot Scale of American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS), and the Achilles TENDON Rupture Score (ATRS) to with a mean follow-up of 25.36±3.3 months.Results: The pre-operative AOFAS and ATRS of 70.4±5.3 and 31.7±5.7 preoperatively improved to 91.8±4.8 and 88.7±4.2 values. The ankle dorsiflexion showed a significant decline-postoperative value of 13.5±4.2 degrees compared to preoperative of 17.2±3.9 degrees (p=0.04). All the cases except a professional athlete, returned to their previous activities.Conclusion: This technique offers good clinical and functional results in patients with large defects and is associated with no donnersite morbidity. We recommend this technique for the reconstruction of the chronic at ruptures in patients with over 6 cm defects.

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) with mild to moderate severity can often be effectively treated by Non- Surgical Measures in a primary care environment. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of nerve and TENDON gliding exercises in the treatment of CTS. In a prospective randomized controlled trial. 38 hands with the diagnosis of CTS were randomly divided to two groups. Both groups were prescribed to wear a Custom molded wrist splint. The patients in group 2 were also instructed to perform nerve and TENDON gliding exercises. Duration of treatment for both groups was 4 weeks. Patients were evaluated with clinical and electrophysiological parameters, symptom severity scale, and functional status scale. There was statistically significant improvement in all parameters in both groups, The Improvement in group 2 was slightly better, but the difference between the two groups was not significant (p<0.05). Patient’s satisfaction was investigated during the follow up period (5-8 months), A total of 11 (61.1%) of the patients in group 1and 13 (76.0%) of the patients in group 2 reported good or excellent results but the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant. Conservative treatment in both groups was effective but without significant difference between them. Further studies with more patients and longer duration of follow up with clinical and electrophysiological parameters are recommended.