[Biomechanical modelling of the wrist joint]

The hand represents one of the most complex joint mechanisms of the human body. The hand is also an important communication medium. The spectrum of today's hand injuries reaches from minor damage up to complex traumata with loss of several functional aspects. Enormous subsequent economic costs result. The therapeutic re-establishment of the equilibrium between maximum stress and the actual applied stress is the condition for a lifelong joint function.

A literature review about biomechanical wrist models was realised. The previous models found in the literature were systematically analysed as well as verifying their suitability for clinical use regarding pathological changes, therapy approaches and modelling/simulation approaches, respectively, of wrist injuries.

The return of the wrist joint biomechanics to the normal condition is a key factor for a successful therapy. Furthermore, it is important for the re-establishment of an unimpaired joint function. Currently, there exist only simplified descriptions and models of the wrist joint, approximated by technical joints and furthermore, they are partially contradictory. Therefore, no uniform validated biomechanical wrist model exists as yet.

Regarding the arising complex clinical problems, however, a valid biomechanical wrist joint model would be necessary as assistance, in order to improve the success of systematised therapies on the basis of computer-aided model-based planning and intervention.