Ligamentous and tendinous anatomy of the intermetacarpal and common carpometacarpal joints: evaluation with MR imaging and MR arthrography.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this work was to demonstrate the normal ligamentous and tendinous anatomy of the intermetacarpal (IMC) and common carpometacarpal (CCMC) joints with MRI and MR arthrography.


METHODS
MR images of 22 wrists derived from fresh human cadavers were obtained before and after arthrography. The MR imaging features of the ligaments and tendons about the CCMC and IMC joints and the joints themselves were analyzed in a randomized fashion and correlated with those seen on anatomic sections.


RESULTS
Six CCMC ligaments were visualized. The dorsal and palmar CCMC ligaments and the pisometacarpal ligament were best visualized in the sagittal plane. The radial and ulnar CCMC collateral ligaments and the capito-third metacarpal ligament were best visualized in the coronal plane. Three main IMC ligaments were observed: a dorsal and a palmar ligament and an interosseous ligament complex. All three ligaments were best visualized in the axial plane. Four tendinous insertions to the metacarpal bases were evident.


CONCLUSIONS
The anatomy of the ligaments and tendinous insertions about the second to fifth IMC and the CCMC joints is well demonstrated by MR imaging and MR arthrography. MR arthrography does not significantly improve the visualization of these complex structures.
Theumann
Nicolas H
NH
Department of Radiology, Veterans Administration Medical Center, San Diego, CA, USA.
Pfirrmann
Christian W A
CW
Chung
Christine B
CB
Antonio
Gregory E
GE
Trudell
Debra J
DJ
Resnick
Donald
D
D000368:Aged; D002102:Cadaver; D002348:Carpal Bones / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand; D006801:Humans; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008663:Metacarpus / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D013710:Tendons / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D014955:Wrist Joint / Q000033:anatomy & histology*