title: A three-dimensional analysis of osteoarthritic changes in the thumb carpometacarpal joint.
abstract: The purpose of this study is to gain a better understanding of the changes due to osteoarthritis (OA) occurring in the thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) joint by comparing quantitative geometrical measurements in computed tomography scans of healthy and pathological joints in various stages of OA. The measurements were (1) the subluxation of the metacarpal on the trapezium, (2) distance from the scaphoid centre to the metacarpal base, and (3) distance from the metacarpal base to the articulating surface of the trapezium. The three-dimensional position of three characteristic points on the metacarpal, trapezium, and scaphoid were detected in each of the 90 wrists we scanned. The distances between the points were compared by statistical analysis. With high accuracy, we have been able to confirm and quantify that subluxation occurs in the dorso-radial direction. A significant difference in trapezium height and joint space width was found between the OA and control groups. The results indicate how to restore the centre of rotation in surgical treatment of OA with total joint arthroplasty, but the clinical relevance of these findings has to be tested in further clinical studies.
authors.affiliation: Quantitative Imaging Group, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands, Orthopaedic Research Unit, Regional Hospital Holstebro, Denmark and Orthopedic Research Department, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: de Raedt
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stilling
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van de Giessen
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Streekstra
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Vos
authors.forename: T B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Hansen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D052737:Carpometacarpal Joints; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D050279:Metacarpal Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D021361:Scaphoid Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012737:Sex Factors; D013933:Thumb; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D051222:Trapezium Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: CT; Osteoarthritis; carpal bones; trapeziometacarpal joint; trapezium