In vivo three-dimensional analysis of hindfoot kinematics.
BACKGROUND
Knowledge of normal bone motion of the foot is important for understanding the gait as well as for various pathologies; however, the pattern of 3D motion is not completely understood. The aim of this study was to quantify the in vivo motion of the tibiotalar joint, talocalcaneal joint, and talonavicular joint in normal adult feet using a noninvasive (e.g., nonsurgical) measurement technique.


METHODS
CT images were taken of both feet of ten normal young adults (six males, four females) in neutral, plantarflexion, and dorsiflexion positions of the ankle joint, from which 3D virtual models were made of each mid-hind foot bones. The 3D bone motion of these models was calculated using volume merge methods in three major planes. These data were used to analyze the relationship between the motion of the ankle joint and each other joint.


RESULTS
Tibiotalar rotation was observed in dorsiflexion, abduction, and eversion during maximal dorsiflexion of the ankle joint. Talocalcaneal and talonavicular rotation was very small because the ankle joint motion was limited to the sagittal plane. Tibiotalar rotation was also observed in plantarflexion and adduction during maximal plantarflexion of the ankle joint, and talocalcaneal rotation was very small. Talonavicular rotation was observed in plantarflexion and inversion. The motion of the x-axis and the z-axis of tibiotalar joint, and the x-axis and the y-axis of the talonavicular and talocalcaneal joint were associated with the ankle motion.


CONCLUSIONS
Bone motion could be easily and accurately calculated using volume merge methods more effectively than it could with other methods.


CONCLUSIONS
The data elucidates the baseline segmental motion for comparison with symptomatic subjects which could help us to better understand pathokinematics of various foot and ankle pathologies.
Imai
Kan
K
Department of Orthopaedics, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
Tokunaga
Daisaku
D
Takatori
Ryota
R
Ikoma
Kazuya
K
Maki
Masahiro
M
Ohkawa
Hiroki
H
Ogura
Akiko
A
Tsuji
Yoshiro
Y
Inoue
Nozomu
N
Kubo
Toshikazu
T
D000328:Adult; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D013380:Subtalar Joint / Q000502:physiology; D013628:Talus / Q000502:physiology