Scaphoid tuberosity excursion is minimized during a dart-throwing motion: A biomechanical study.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine whether the excursion of the scaphoid tuberosity and therefore scaphoid motion is minimized during a dart-throwing motion.


METHODS
Scaphoid tuberosity excursion was studied as an indicator of scaphoid motion in 29 cadaver wrists as they were moved through wrist flexion-extension, radioulnar deviation, and a dart-throwing motion.


RESULTS
Study results demonstrate that excursion was significantly less during the dart-throwing motion than during either wrist flexion-extension or radioulnar deviation.


CONCLUSIONS
If the goal of early wrist motion after carpal ligament or distal radius injury and reconstruction is to minimize loading of the healing structures, a wrist motion in which scaphoid motion is minimal should reduce length changes in associated ligamentous structures. Therefore, during rehabilitation, if a patient uses a dart-throwing motion that minimizes his or her scaphoid tuberosity excursion, there should be minimal changes in ligament loading while still allowing wrist motion.


METHODS
Bench research, biomechanics, and cross-sectional.


METHODS
Not applicable. The study was laboratory based.
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA. Electronic address: wernerf@upstate.edu.
Frederick W
FW
Werner
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA.
Levi G
LG
Sutton
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA.
Niladri
N
Basu
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA.
Walter H
WH
Short
Department of Physical Therapy, Osaka Yukioka College of Health Science, Osaka, Japan.
Hisao
H
Moritomo
Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Centre de Santé et de Services Sociaux de Gatineau, Gatineau, QC, Canada.
Hugo
H
St-Amand
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002102:Cadaver; D050824:Carpal Joints / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D016014:Linear Models; D012667:Lunate Bone / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009038:Motion; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D012399:Rotation; D021361:Scaphoid Bone / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*
Dart-throwing motion; Rehabilitation after carpal injury; Scaphoid tuberosity; Scapholunate interosseous ligament injury