Functional Anatomy and Biomechanics of the Wrist and Hand Flashcards
Introduction
- the wrist and hand complex has many articulations
- used primarily for manipulation activities: many stable but mobile segments, wide potential of interplay of wrist and finger positions
- also helps to express thru touch, art, etc.
Radiocarpal Joint (RC)
- ellipsoid joint
- 2 degrees of freedom: flexion/extension, radial/ulnar deviation
- involves distal end of radius and the carpals
- primary articulation with lunate and scaphoid: lesser contact with triquetrium
Osteokinematics at RC Joint
- wrist motion comprised of motion at many joints-including radiocarpal joint
- typical gross ROM values:
- wrist flexion ~70-90
- wrist extension ~70-80
- radial deviation ~15-20
- ulnar deviation ~30-40
Arthrokinematics in RC Joint
- joint orientation: radius and ulna-inferior, anterior, medial; carpals-superior, posterior, lateral
- concave joint surface: radius and ulna
- loose-pack position: slight flexion and ulnar deviation
- close-pack position: full extension
Carpal Joints
- 2 rows of 4 carpals (proximal and distal)
- proximal includes: scaphoid, lunate, triquetrum, pisiform
- distal: trapezium, trapezoid, capitate, hamate
- articulation between rows is known as midcarpal joint
- intercarpal joint describes articulation between 2 carpal bones
- carpal tunnel: concave transverse arch crossing the carpals: passage for flexor tendons and median nerve
Osteokinematics at Carpal Joint
- midcarpal joint accounts for ~60* of total wrist flexion: 40% is due to scaphoid and lunate moving on radius
- gross ROM for wrist flexion ~70-90-at least 10-15 needed for most ADL, may be limited by soft tissue resistance of wrist/finger extensors
- extension also initiated at mid carpal joint-most common motion occurs at RC joint
- RC joint accounts ~60* of total wrist extension ROM; midcarpal joint accounts for additional ~30*
- switch due to scaphoid moving with proximal carpals during flexion and distal carpals during extension
- wrist extension ROM ~70-80* and about 35* is needed for ADLs
- radial and ulnar deviation: proximal row of carpals glide over distal row; RD prox moves toward ulna, UD distal moves away from ulna
- radial deviation ~15-20
- ulnar deviation ~30-40
Arthrokinematics in Carpal Joints
- proximal row is oriented inferiorly, distal row oriented superiorly
- concave joint surface varies depends on specific joint
- loose-pack is slight flexion and ulnar deviation
- close pack is full extension
Carpal Tunnel
- palmar side of carpal bones form a concavity
- transverse carpal ligaments arch over tunnel: between pisiform, hook of hamate, and tubercle of scaphoid, and trapezium
- median nerve and extrinsic fingers flexors pass through the tunnel
Ligaments in the Wrist-Extrinsic Ligaments
- dorsal radiocarpal ligaments
- radial collateral ligaments
- palmar radiocarpal ligaments: radiocapitate, radiolunate, radioscapholunate
- ulnocarpal complex: articular disc, ulnar collateral ligament, palmar ulnocarpal ligament
Ligaments in the Wrist-Intrinsic
- short ligaments
- intermediate ligaments: lunotriquetral, scapholunate, scaphotrapezial
- long ligaments: palmar intercarpal (lateral and medial), dorsal intercarpal
Hand
- digital creases: distal, middle, proximal
- palmar creases: distal, proximal, thenar
- wrist creases: distal, proximal
Arches of the Hand
- 3 and all linked
- weaknesses in one arch weakens the others
- proximal transverse: carpal bones, rigid, immobile
- distal transverse: heads of metacarpals, mobile
- longitudinal: flexible, mobile
Carpometacarpal Joints
- connect carpals to fingers via metacarpals
- each metacarpal and phalanx aka a ray
- CMC allows most motion in thumb and lesser motion in hand
- 1st CMC: saddle between trapezium and metacarpal, provides thum with most of its motion
- thumb can touch each finger (opposition): very important in all gripping and prehension tasks
- CMC offers little motion in the hand: 2nd and 3rd very restricted, as much as 10-30* of CMC flexion/extension available in 4th and 5th
- concave transverse arch across the metacarpals-facilitates gripping function of the hand
Osteokinematics at CMC Joints
- 1st CMC 50-80* flexion/extension; 40-80* abduction/adduction; 10-15* rotation
- opposition can occur through ROM ~90*
Arthrokinematics in CMC Joints: Thumb
- joint orientation: trapezium-inferior, anterior, lateral; metacarpal-superior, posterior, medial
- concave joint surface: trapezium concave posterior to anterior, 1st MC concave lateral to medial
- loose-pack midway between flex/ext and abd/add
- close-pack position: full opposition
- abduction: convex on concave-palmar roll and dorsal glide
- adduction: convex on concave-dorsal roll and palmar glide
- flexion: concave on convex, medial roll and glide
- extension: concave on convex, lateral roll and glide
Metacarpophalangeal Joints
- MCP joints in fingers are condylar, allowing 2 DF: flexion/extension; abduction/adduction
- joints well-reinforced in fingers by dorsal hoods, palmar plates, collateral or deep transverse ligaments
- grip strength best with wrist in 20-30* extension-places finger flexors in best position to produce forces
- 1st MCP is hinge joint, not connected to others via deep transverse ligaments
Osteokinematics at MCP Joints
- flexion ROM 70-90*: most in little finger and least in index
- extension ROM ~25*: affected by position of wrist
- abduction/adduction ROM ~20*: abduction limited when fingers flexed, restricted by increased tension on collateral ligaments
- ROM for 1st MCP: flexion 30-90, extension ~15
Arthrokinematics in 1st MCP Joint
- joint orientation: metacarpals-inferior, anterior, lateral; phalanges: superior, posterior, medial
- concave joint surface: phalanx
- loose-pack: slight flexion
- close-pack: full extension
Arthrokinematics in MCP Joints 2-5
- joint orientation: metacarpals-inferior, phalanges-superior
- concave joint surface: phalanx
- loose-pack position: slight flexion and slight ulnar deviation
- close-pack position: full flexion
Interphalangeal Joints
- all fingers have 3 segments 2 IP joints: PIP and DIP
- thumb has 2 segments and 1 IP
- ip are true hinge joints: reinforced laterally by collateral ligaments
Osteokinematics at IP Joints
-flexion: 110 at PIP, 50 at DIP and IP joint in thumb
Arthrokinematics at IP Joints
- joint orientation: proximal phalanx-inferior, distal phalanx-superior
- concave joint surface: distal phalanx
- loose-pack position: slight flexion
- close-pack position: full extension
Functional Positions for Wrist and Hand
- most ADLs require: 45-50* in sagittal plane and 20-25* in frontal plane
- when fused the wrist is often placed in 10-15* extension and 10* ulnar deviation
Innervation in Wrist and Hand
- supplied by brachial plexus
- many hand conditions related to innervation