Anatomic location of the first dorsal extensor compartment for surgical De-Quervain’s tenosynovitis release: A cadaveric study

Table 1 Superficial landmarks and associated distance from the first dorsal compartment

Anatomic landmarks	Mean (mm)	SD	N	SE	95%CI
Distal phalanx	30.11	3.39	6	1.38	(27.40-32.82)
Distal phalanx crease to tip of finger	30.70	3.74	6	1.52	(27.71-33.68)
Retinaculum	26.82	3.34	6	1.37	(24.14-29.49)
Radial styloid to retinaculum	2.98	0.99	6	0.40	(2.18-3.77)
Superficial radial nerve crossing proximal to retinaculum	10.20	4.48	2	3.17	(3.99-16.40)
Wrist crease to retinaculum	5.14	0.80	6	0.33	(4.50-5.78)
Listers tubercle to retinaculum	13.37	2.94	6	1.20	(11.02-15.73)
Listers tubercle to 1st dorsal compartment	18.43	2.01	6	0.82	(16.82-20.04)
Separate EPB compartment	0.66	N/A	6	N/A
Number of APL slips	3.00	0.63	6	0.26	(2.49-3.51)
Pseudo-retinaculum	N/A	N/A	4	N/A

Various data points and anatomic landmarks obtained from the cadaveric dissection presented as averages for all specimens included in the study. The average length of the extensor retinaculum was 26.82 mm ± 3.34 mm. The distance from the radial most aspect of the wrist crease to the retinaculum was 5.14 mm ± 0.80 mm. The distance from Lister’s tubercle to the proximal aspect of the retinaculum measured 13.37 mm ± 2.94 mm while distance from Lister’s tubercle to the start of the first dorsal compartment was 18.43 mm ± 2.01 mm. The presence of a pseudo-retinaculum and separate extensor pollicis brevis compartments were only seen in 4 out 6 cadavers. Average abductor pollicis longus slips in all cadavers was 3. Of note, the superficial radial nerve was only seen in two cadaver dissections. SD: Standard deviation; N: Sample size; SE: Standard error; CI: Confidence interval; EPB: Extensor pollicis brevis; APL: Abductor pollicis longus; N/A: Not available.