Flexor digitorum superficialis tear in a wakeboarder : an unusual clinical case

Tears in the flexor digitorum superficialis muscle belly are rare injuries with one single case reported in the literature. In this article, we describe the first case of muscle tear of the flexor digitorum superficialis resulting from a wakeboarding trauma. The wakeboarder presented with pain localized in the anterior forearm, and early symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. Ultrasonography demonstrated an intramuscular hematoma of the flexor digitorum superficialis myotendinous junction, which compressed the median nerve. After conservative treatment, the patient was asymptomatic and returned to his usual daily activities and sports within 5 weeks of the injury. In patients with a wakeboard trauma and similar presentations, a tear in the flexor digitorum superficialis muscle belly should be suspected.