The ring finger FDS slip arises primarily from the humeral-ulnar head origin at the medial epicondyle. The ring FDS slip is the slip most frequently used as a tendon transfer donor (FDS ring to FDP in profundus advancement procedures) in flexor tendon reconstruction.
| Origin | Medial epicondyle — humeral-ulnar head primarily |
|---|---|
| Insertion | Base of the middle phalanx of the ring finger |
| Nerve Supply | Median nerve (C7, C8, T1) |
| Blood Supply | Ulnar artery |
| Actions | Flexes the PIP joint of the ring finger; Assists ring MCP flexion and wrist flexion |
|---|
The ring FDS slip is the most commonly harvested FDS slip for tendon transfer in hand surgery — its sacrifice produces the least functional deficit as ring finger PIP flexion can be partially compensated by FDP. It is used in four-tailed FDS transfers for intrinsic reconstruction in low ulnar nerve palsy.
Tested by isolated ring PIP flexion with adjacent fingers held extended by the examiner.
Ring finger FDS slip used as a four-tailed donor for intrinsic reconstruction in ulnar nerve palsy, each tail inserted into a lateral band of each finger to restore MCP flexion and IP extension.
