Because wrist rotation dynamics are dominated by stiffness (Charles SK, Hogan N. J Biomech 44: 614-621, 2011), understanding how humans plan and execute coordinated wrist rotations requires knowledge of the stiffness characteristics of the wrist joint. In the past, the passive stiffness of the wrist joint has been measured in 1 degree of freedom (DOF). Although these 1-DOF measurements inform u...

Muscle strength and volume vary greatly among individuals. Maximum isometric joint moment, a standard measurement of strength, has typically been assessed in young, healthy subjects, whereas muscle volumes have generally been measured in cadavers. This has made it difficult to characterize the relationship between isometric strength and muscle size in humans. We measured maximum isometric momen...

Damage to the palmar cutaneous branch of the median nerve (PCBMN) is a potential complication of surgery at the volar aspect of the wrist. The aim of this study was to determine the relationships of the PCBMN to both surface and bony landmarks using reliable methods. Ten pairs of forearms from cadavers aged 73 to 98 years were dissected. The PCBMN was identified and its course and relationships...

Wrist stiffness has been shown to have a greater effect on wrist dynamics than inertia and damping for all but the fastest wrist rotations [1]. Therefore, making coordinated wrist rotations requires that humans predict and compensate for the effects of wrist stiffness. Because wrist stiffness is anisotropic (with greater stiffness in radial-ulnar deviation than flexion-extension), some movement...

PURPOSE This study examined the kinematic differences between a body-powered prosthesis and a biomechatronics prosthesis as a transradial amputee performed activities that involve flexion/extension and supination/pronation of the wrist. METHOD The subject's wrist movements were calculated and compared as he completed a wrist range of motion test involving simulated flexion/extension and supin...

Distraction arthroplasty of the ankle, elbow, and hip has become widely accepted and used within the orthopaedic community with excellent initial results which appear sustained. To date it has not been applied to the wrist in the same manner. A novel technique, drawn upon past success of articulated ankle distraction and static wrist distraction, was devised and evaluated by application of arti...

Diagnosis of upper extremity injuries depends on knowledge of basic anatomy and biomechanics of the hand and wrist. The wrist is composed of two rows of carpal bones. Flexor and extensor tendons cross the wrist to allow function of the hand and digits. The ulnar, median, and radial nerves provide innervation of the hand and wrist. A systematic primary and secondary examination of the hand and w...

OBJECTIVES Acute wrist trauma in children is one of the most frequent reasons for visiting the emergency department (ED). Radiographic imaging in children with wrist trauma is mostly performed routinely to confirm or rule out a fracture. The aim of this study was to determine how many radiographs of the wrist show a fracture in children following wrist trauma. METHODS A retrospective cohort s...