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Wrist Biomechanics

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Fracture-Dislocations of the Wrist

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Abstract

This chapter analyzes the wrist joint and the carpal pulley from a kinematic and a kinetic perspective. The wrist is often described as the least important articulation of the upper limb; a joint that can be fused without generating great distress to the patient. This is only partly true, since without a mobile wrist, there is no precision in placing the hand where is required to manipulate an object. Several mechanical models have been hypothesized to explain wrist function: it is not only the result of a perfect mechanical interaction between moving bones and soft tissue constraints, but also the consequence of a complex system of ligament-muscle reflexes mediating its dynamic muscle stabilization. The wrist is not only a complicated composite joint allowing large range of motion; the wrist is also a load bearing articulation. Aside from this role, the wrist is also an important pulley to enhance finger function.

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  1. Institute Kaplan, Passeig de la Bonanova, 9, 2 on 2a, 08022, Barcelona, Spain

    Marc Garcia-Elias

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  1. Marc Garcia-Elias
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Correspondence to Marc Garcia-Elias .

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Garcia-Elias, M. (2013). Wrist Biomechanics. In: Fracture-Dislocations of the Wrist. Springer, Milano. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-5328-1_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-5328-1_3

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