Kinematic radiographic measurements of the wrist in the healthy population in the Republic of Macedonia.

Many diseases of the wrist can be recognized by radiographic changes and quantified by radiographic measurements. The kinematic radiographic measurements are the basis for kinematic studies of the wrist as well as a diagnostic, prognostic and follow- up tool for many conditions of the wrist. We undertook this study to identify the normal variations in the longitudinal and transverse dimensions of the wrist, and measure several indices on posteroanterior roentgenograms of the wrists of the healthy population in the Republic of Macedonia. There were 100 healthy subjects (47 men and 53 women), 41 left and 59 right hands. The mean age of the subjects was 42 years±12.42 (range 20 to 60 years). Measurements were made of the third metacarpal, the carpal height, the length of the capitate and the carpal- ulnar distance. The indices, expressed as ratios, included the carpal height ratios (we used two methods--CHR by Youm and Revised CHR as described by Natrass) and the Carpal-Ulnar Distance Ratio. The results we obtained are similar to those we find in the literature (CHR--0.53±0.01; RCHR--1.56±0.02; Carpal-Ulnar Distance Ratio--0.30±0.01). This study shows that these methods are reproducible and the values represent normal reference values that can be used in further kinematic studies of the wrist in our population. Also, these measurements can be used in determining the degree of kinematic dysfunction present in people with wrist abnormalities, and in evaluation of the kinematic effectiveness of real and hypothetical treatment modalities, thus making them exceptionally valuable for the orthopaedic surgeons.