Analysis of radiocarpal and midcarpal motion in stable and unstable rheumatoid wrists using 3-dimensional computed tomography

Purpose The kinematic evaluation of carpal motion, especially midcarpal motion, in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been extremely difficult because of limited imaging techniques previously available. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the amount of radiocarpal and midcarpal motion in the flexion-extension plane in both stable and unstable rheumatoid wrists using three-dimensional computed tomography. Methods We acquired in vivo kinematic data on 30 wrists with RA by three-dimensional computed tomography with the wrist in 3 positions: neutral, maximum flexion, and maximum extension. All cases were radiographically classified into 1 of 2 subtypes, the stable form or unstable form, according to the classification by Flury et al. We evaluated the precise range of radiocarpal and midcarpal motion using a markerless bone registration technique and calculated the individual contributions to the total amount of wrist motion in the flexion-extension plane in the different radiographic subtypes of RA. Results The average range of motion of radiocarpal and midcarpal joint was 27 degrees +/- 15 and 32 degrees +/- 17, respectively. The average contribution of midcarpal motion to the total amount of wrist motion was 54%. The average contribution of midcarpal motion in the unstable form was 67%, which was significantly higher than 47% (p < .05) in the stable form. Conclusions Midcarpal motion of rheumatoid wrists in the flexion-extension plane was better preserved than previously thought. The contribution of midcarpal motion to the total amount of wrist motion was significantly greater (p < .05) in the unstable form than in the stable form of RA.