MRI of the Pulleys of the Digital and Palmar Flexor Tendons Using Short and Ultrashort Echo Time Pulse Sequences

John Firebaugh¹, Jiang Du¹, Michael Carl², Christine Chung¹, Nikolaus M. Szeverenyi¹, Graeme M. Bydder¹

Cadaveric digital and palmar flexor tendons were studied with short and ultrashort TE pulse sequences using a clinical 3T system. Annular, cruciate and oblique pulleys were demonstrated with high signal including a central layer which showed marked angle effects (high and low signal with change in orientation to B0) differentiating it from the other two layers. Connections to the volar plate (A1 A3 A5) and periosteum (A2 A4) were well seen. Use of shorter TE sequences shows anatomy that has not previously been demonstrated with conventional longer TE pulse sequences.