An in-vivo study of normal wrist kinematics

The motion of the hand relative to a reference frame embedded in the radius is described using the screw displacement axis (SDA) concept. A three-dimensional sonic digitizer was utilized in a study of the dominant wrist of 15 normal subjects to determine the location and orientation of the SDAs based on the endpoints of flexion-extension motion (FEM) and radial-ulnar deviation (RUD) of the hand. The length of the common perpendicular between the SDAs of FEM and RUD was as large as 6 mm in some individuals; however, in some subjects the FEM SDA was distal of the RUD SDA while in others it was proximal. Considering the group of 15 subjects, the SDAs of FEM and RUD for the normal group nearly intersect in the head of the capitate in the neutrally positioned wrist and forearm.