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Pressure distribution in the wrist joint
Author(s) -
Tencer A. F.,
Viegas S. F.,
Cantrell J.,
Chang M.,
Clegg P.,
Hicks C.,
O'Meara C.,
Williamson J. B.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
journal of orthopaedic research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.041
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1554-527X
pISSN - 0736-0266
DOI - 10.1002/jor.1100060406
Subject(s) - lunate , wrist , contact area , joint (building) , anatomy , orthodontics , medicine , nuclear medicine , materials science , composite material , engineering , structural engineering
We performed a study to determine pressure distribution properties of the normal radio‐carpal joint. A system was developed for measurement of the contact pressure within the wrist joint surfaces. The transducer was based on Fuji pressure‐sensitive paper, which was inserted into the joint space through a dorsal capsular incision. The hand was then positioned using a jig that permitted free axial loading of the joint. Each of five specimens was tested in 36 positions combining flexion/extension with radio/ulnar deviation and supination/pronation. The transducers were analyzed for contact area, scapholunate contact area ratio, pressure, and centroid locations using a microcomputer‐based video‐imaging system. The scaphoid and lunate contact areas on the radius and traingular fibrocartilage were separate and distinct in all wrist positions. Together these contact areas accounted for a relatively small fraction of the total joint surface area (average contact area/total joint area = 0.206, SD = 0.0495). For an applied 103 Newton compressive load, the high pressure averaged 3.17 MPa (SD = 0.83 MPa). Overall, the scaphoid contact area was 1.47 times that of the lunate, although variations occurred with position, as in flexion, in which the scaphoid/lunate area ratio was 0.83. The highpressure centroids of both scaphoid and lunate contact areas shifted palmarly from 20° of flexion to 20° of extension and then dorsally with further extension. The scaphoid‐lunate intercentroid distance averaged 14.91 mm with a range of 10–20 mm.