The origins of the camper’s chiasm asymmetry: a cadaveric study and clinical implications for flexor tendons surgery

Abstract

The Camper’s chiasm (CC) originates from the decussation of tendon fibers of the flexor digitorum superficialis at the level of the proximal phalanx. Previous studies described several conformations of the CC, but none has studied the asymmetry pattern for each finger. We lack studies about the relationship between the vincula tendinum and the morphology of the CC. We aimed to study the precise pattern of asymmetry and the aforementioned relationship in a cadaveric study. We studied the fingers of 9 fresh frozen human hands (thumb excluded). We observed the distribution of the fibers and categorized each CC according to the Gonzalez classification. Finally, we recorded the inset point of the vincula longa superficiales (VLS) according to Schmidt. We found 7 symmetrical CCs, while the remaining 29 showed an asymmetrical pattern that matched with the site of insertion of the VLS. For the index and long fingers, we detected a dominance of the ulnar slip. For the ring and little finger, we found a higher radial dominance. The inset point of the VLS always coincided with the side of slip dominance, whereas in symmetrical CCs, the VLS was symmetrical as well. Since the vascular role of the vincula tendinum, we speculate that the asymmetry of the CC may be of vascular origin.

Keywords:

• Camper’s chiasm
• flexor tendons
• flexor digitorum superficialis
• tendon repair
• tendon reconstruction
• tendon transfer

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully thank Daniel McAndrew-Greiner for the English editing and language support.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.