4DCT analysis of in-vivo carpal kinematics during FEM

A consensus, detailed understanding of carpal kinematics remains elusive. 4-dimensional CT (4DCT) is a validated modality capable of accurately studying in-vivokinematic motion. The objective of this work is to quantify normal, in-vivo kinematic motion of the carpus through a flexion-extension arc of motion using 4DCT. Ten healthy, un-injured volunteers underwent a 4DCT scanning protocol through a complete arc of flexion-extension motion. Kinematic changes in motion were quantified using helical axis motion data for each carpal bone. Helical axes were compared between bones and statistical analysis performed using repeated-measures ANOVA to identify difference in kinematic motion between bones (p<0.05). The carpus can be divided into four main kinematic blocks: the distal carpal block, the proximal carpal block and individual scaphoid and trapezial blocks. This work supports an additional segmentation of the trapezium from the distal carpal row, which suggests some modulation between the scaphoid and distal carpal row.