Abstract
Trapeziometacarpal joint (TMC joint) of thumb is one of the joints having a complicated shape which enables to generate a wide variation of finger movements in daily life. It is important to clarify the accurate in vivo contact behavior of healthy TMC joint when evaluating post-operative joint movements. Thus, author analyzed TMC joint contact behavior in 4 different finger positions of 8 healthy adult males using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. From MR images, three-dimensional bone models were constructed and a three-dimensional coordinate system was defined by the characteristic shape of each bone model. Then, three bone axial angles and three-dimensional bone motion of each 4 positions in the TMC joint were calculated: abduction-adduction, extension-flexion, pronation-supination, and Euler angles. Furthermore, contact areas of the articular cartilage in each of 4 positions were clarified from MR images. Results have shown that, the contact area changed with changing of the thumb position and it was maximum oat the thumb extension. In addition, it was clarified that the contact area moved according to the thumb position.
