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Curvatures of the DIP joints of the hand

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HAND

Abstract

Background

The distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints of the hand are highly susceptible to osteoarthritis and trauma. Surgical treatment options mandate accurate characterization of their osseous anatomy; however, there are few studies that describe this. We describe the curvatures of the DIP joints by measuring the bone morphology using advanced imaging and modeling methods.

Methods

The fingers of 16 right hand fresh frozen human cadavers were analyzed. Fingers showing signs of DIP joint arthritis were excluded. The fingers were scanned using microtomography (microCT). Measurements of the bony morphology were made using models created from the scans.

Results

In each finger, there is no statistically significant difference between the radii of curvature of the ulnar and radial condyles of the middle phalanx head. Conversely, the radius of curvature of the distal phalanx ulnar groove is significantly greater than that of the radial groove. The radii of curvature of the groove of the distal phalanx and the condyles of the middle phalanx displayed nonconformity with disparity increasing from the index to small fingers. Remarkably, the radius of curvature of the distal phalanx central ridge and the mean radius of the middle phalanx condyles are essentially the same.

Conclusion

The purpose of this study is to gain better insight into the DIP joints of the hand. The asymmetry between the distal phalanx grooves and the middle phalanx condyles suggests that there may be a translational component to DIP joint motion. Our understanding of morphology may lend insight into the biomechanics and disease progression within the DIP joints.

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Conflicts of Interest

Kraig S. Graham declares that he has no conflict of interest. Robert J. Goitz declares that he has no conflict of interest. Robert A. Kaufmann declares that he has no conflict of interest.

Statement of Human Rights

All procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation (institutional and national) and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2008.

Statement of Informed Consent

No personal identifying information was used in this manuscript, and the research was performed on cadaver specimens; therefore, informed consent was not needed nor obtained.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Kaufmann Medical Building, 3471 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1011, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA

    Kraig S. Graham, Robert J. Goitz & Robert A. Kaufmann

Authors
  1. Kraig S. Graham
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  2. Robert J. Goitz
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  3. Robert A. Kaufmann
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kraig S. Graham.

Additional information

Partial funding for this project was received from Albert B. Ferguson, M.D. Orthopaedic Fund of the Pittsburgh Foundation

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Graham, K.S., Goitz, R.J. & Kaufmann, R.A. Curvatures of the DIP joints of the hand. HAND 9, 522–528 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11552-014-9605-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11552-014-9605-2

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