The pisotriquetral joint: anatomic, biomechanical, and radiographic analysis.
OBJECTIVE
To examine anatomically and radiographically the ligaments stabilizing the pisotriquetral (PT) joint and to determine the contribution of each ligament to the stability of this joint.


METHODS
Twelve cadaver arms were used. The study had 3 components: (1) anatomic dissection of the PT joint ligaments and patterns of degenerative changes, (2) biomechanical sequential sectioning of the supporting ligaments, and (3) radiographic assessment of PT joint motion in several planes both before and after ligament sectioning.


RESULTS
The ligaments that attached to the pisiform were the pisometacarpal (PM), pisohamate (PH), radial PT, ulnar PT, and transverse carpal ligament. The PH ligament was shorter, wider, and thicker than the PM ligament. The transverse carpal ligament attachment in the pisiform was insubstantial. In 10 limbs degenerative changes were present, most of them peripheral. Biomechanical testing showed that the primary stabilizers of the PT joint were the PM, PH, and ulnar PT ligaments and that these were responsible for resisting proximal, ulnar, and radial forces, respectively. The PH distance increased along with the pisiform sagittal motion during wrist flexion on oblique x-rays after transection of the PM and ulnar PT ligaments. Concomitantly this distance decreased on the anteroposterior x-rays during radial deviation. The PH distance increased along with the pisiform frontal motion after transection of the PH and radial PT ligaments.


CONCLUSIONS
The pisiform ligament complex has primary and secondary stabilizers to the PT joint. The primary stabilizers are the PH, PM, and ulnar PT ligaments. The transverse carpal and radial PT ligaments are secondary stabilizers. Injuries of the primary stabilizers of the PT joint may lead to instability that predisposes to degenerative joint disease.
Rayan
Ghazi M
GM
Hand Surgery Section, Orthopedic Surgery Department, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine and Integris Medical Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA. ouhsgmr@aol.com
Jameson
Bretton H
BH
Chung
Kyung W
KW
D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002102:Cadaver; D002348:Carpal Bones / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008022:Ligaments / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D011859:Radiography; D014955:Wrist Joint / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology