Skip to main content
Journal cover image

The effect of increasing distraction on digital motion after external fixation of the wrist.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Papadonikolakis, A; Shen, J; Garrett, JP; Davis, SM; Ruch, DS
Published in: J Hand Surg Am
July 2005

PURPOSE: Although several factors have been related to the development of digital stiffness after external fixation of distal radius fractures, distraction can be considered one of the most important. This study determined a threshold for distraction during external fixation of distal radius fractures and documented the effect of distraction of the wrist on metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint motion. METHODS: Eight fresh-frozen cadaveric forearms were mounted on a testing frame and the flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) tendon of each finger was pulled individually until a 90 degrees flexion at the MCP joint was generated. A load cell was used to record the force applied on the tendons. Tendon displacement was calculated by using a linear potentiometer. Sequential distraction across the wrist was applied through a distraction outrigger on the external fixator and was measured both on the external fixator in millimeters and on fluoroscopic images. Finger motion was captured by using a 2-dimensional motion tracking system. The experiment was repeated at different levels of wrist distraction (increments of 2 mm to a maximum of 14 mm). RESULTS: There was a significant difference in the effect of distraction on the individual fingers. For the index finger the load required for the FDS to produce a 90 degrees flexion at the MCP joint was increased linearly between 0 and 8 mm of wrist distraction. For the other fingers a threshold of distraction was found. A significant increase in the load was noticed after 5 mm of wrist distraction. CONCLUSIONS: More than 5 mm of wrist distraction increases the load required for the FDS to generate MCP joint flexion for the middle, ring, and small fingers. For the index finger, however, as much as 2 mm of wrist distraction significantly increases the load required for flexion at the MCP joint.

Duke Scholars

Published In

J Hand Surg Am

DOI

ISSN

0363-5023

Publication Date

July 2005

Volume

30

Issue

4

Start / End Page

773 / 779

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Wrist Joint
  • Tendons
  • Stress, Mechanical
  • Statistics, Nonparametric
  • Range of Motion, Articular
  • Radius Fractures
  • Orthopedics
  • Metacarpophalangeal Joint
  • Humans
  • Fracture Fixation
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Papadonikolakis, A., Shen, J., Garrett, J. P., Davis, S. M., & Ruch, D. S. (2005). The effect of increasing distraction on digital motion after external fixation of the wrist. J Hand Surg Am, 30(4), 773–779. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhsa.2005.02.016
Papadonikolakis, Anastasios, Jian Shen, Jeffrey P. Garrett, Samuel M. Davis, and David S. Ruch. “The effect of increasing distraction on digital motion after external fixation of the wrist.J Hand Surg Am 30, no. 4 (July 2005): 773–79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhsa.2005.02.016.
Papadonikolakis A, Shen J, Garrett JP, Davis SM, Ruch DS. The effect of increasing distraction on digital motion after external fixation of the wrist. J Hand Surg Am. 2005 Jul;30(4):773–9.
Papadonikolakis, Anastasios, et al. “The effect of increasing distraction on digital motion after external fixation of the wrist.J Hand Surg Am, vol. 30, no. 4, July 2005, pp. 773–79. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.jhsa.2005.02.016.
Papadonikolakis A, Shen J, Garrett JP, Davis SM, Ruch DS. The effect of increasing distraction on digital motion after external fixation of the wrist. J Hand Surg Am. 2005 Jul;30(4):773–779.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Hand Surg Am

DOI

ISSN

0363-5023

Publication Date

July 2005

Volume

30

Issue

4

Start / End Page

773 / 779

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Wrist Joint
  • Tendons
  • Stress, Mechanical
  • Statistics, Nonparametric
  • Range of Motion, Articular
  • Radius Fractures
  • Orthopedics
  • Metacarpophalangeal Joint
  • Humans
  • Fracture Fixation