Purpose
Opposition is an important movement of the hand and rotation of the first metacarpal
is the essential component. There is no agreement on the exact magnitude of rotation
of the first metacarpal during opposition. This study used computed tomography to
describe rotation measurement of the first metacarpal in the hands of a group of healthy
individuals.
Methods
The rotation of the first metacarpal was measured with reference to the fixed unit
of the hand. Computed tomographic images were taken of the hands of 10 healthy individuals
with the thumb in retroposition, resting position, and opposition to the index, middle,
ring, and small fingers. On each image a tangential line was drawn along the dorsal
margin of the second and third metacarpals. A second line was drawn through the head
of the first metacarpal at the level of the sesamoids. The angle between the 2 lines
was measured as the angle of rotation of the first metacarpal in different thumb positions.
Results
The mean angle of rotation of the first metacarpal in retroposition was 54° ± 10°
with reference to the fixed unit of the hand. In the resting position the angle of
rotation of the first metacarpal changed to 74° ± 10°. In the position of opposition
to the index, middle, ring, and small fingers the angle of rotation of the first metacarpal
increased to 100° ± 7°, 103° ± 6°, 105° ± 6°, and 110° ± 7°, respectively.
Conclusions
The first metacarpal rotates 56° when it moves from retroposition to the position
of opposition to the small finger.
Key words
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
August 19,
2005
Received:
June 20,
2005
Footnotes
No benefits in any form have been received or will be received from a commercial party related directly or indirectly to the subject of this article.
Identification
Copyright
© 2006 American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
