Radiographic Measurements of the Wrist of Normal Korean Adults

Journal of the Korean Society for Surgery of the Hand 2002;7(1):1-7.
Published online January 1, 2002.

Dong Chul Kim, Sang Soo Kim, Churl Hong Chun, Yong Bum Kim, Young Cheon Na

한국인 정상 성인의 수근관절의 방사선적 계측

김동철, 김상수, 전철홍, 김용범, 나영천

Abstract

Introduction : Normal reference values of radiographic measurements of the wrist joint are very useful to assess the severity of various pathologic conditions, to get information in selecting the proper treatment methods and to compare the results of alternative methods of treatment. It is worth while to investigate the normal values of radiographic parametes of the both wrist and to compare the variability of the left-right differences with the one of the whole group in Korea. Purpose : The purpose of this study is to compare in normal subjects the variability of wrist x-ray film measurements between the right and left sides with one of the those measurements in the population. Material and Methods : 50 young adults with normal wrists were recruited on a volunteer basis. All of them has no history of previous surgery, trauma, congenital anomaly, or sign and symptoms suggestive of a disorder of wrists. Posteroanterior and lateral x-ray films of both wrist were made with the central ray directed 15¡Æ proximally to the film in lateral view, perpendicular to the film in posteroanterior view, in the standard position recommended in the literature. The following measurements were made on all x-ray films by one single observer: radial length, ulnar inclination, palmar tilt of the distal radius and ulnar variance. Results : The mean absolute differences between the right and left wrists were 1.1 mm for radial length, 1.4¡Æ for ulnar inclination, 1.8¡Æ for palmar tilt and 0.7 mm for ulnar variance. The Spearman correlation coefficient? between the left and right wrists was 0.61 for radial length, 0.70 for ulnar inclination, 0.50 for palmar tilt and 0.80 for ulnar variance. The variability of the left-right differences were compared with the variability of the whole wrists and were less small for all parameters. Conclusion : Contralateral wrist does not provide a better reference than population data for radiologic parameters such as radial length, ulnar inclination and palmar tilt except ulnar variance.