Evaluation of in vivo articular contact behavior of radiocarpal joint using image matching technique

Abstract

Evaluation of in vivo articular contact behavior at the radiocarpal joint is important for understanding the biomechanical functions under physiological loading. The objective of this study was to assess in vivo articular contact behavior between the radius and scaphoid and between the radius and lunate using an image matching technique. Four wrist joints of four normal male subjects were enrolled in this study. Biplanar X-ray images were taken during dorsal/ palmar flexion and ulnar/radial deviation of the wrist joint. Positions of the bones were determined by fitting 3D bone models reconstructed using CT scan data with the biplanar X-ray images. The articular contact was estimated from occlusion between the cartilage models created using MRI scan data. The distributions of contact area and the contact point locations varied markedly with wrist position. The present result would be able to provide a fundamental knowledge about the biomechanics of the wrist joint.