We examined 300 Caucasian subjects (150 males, 150 females) aged 18-40 year
s to assess the incidence of palmaris longus absence. The presence or absen
ce of palmaris longus was assessed by clinical inspection.
Forty-nine subjects had unilateral absence of palmaris longus (16%). The te
ndon was absent bilaterally in 26 subjects (9%).
Unilateral and bilateral absence was more common in males, however this was
not statistically significant (p = 0.25 and 0.56 respectively).
In those subjects with unilateral absence, the right side was found to be m
ore commonly affected however no statistical significance was evident (p =
0.25).