The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Vol 71, Issue 9 1400-1405, Copyright © 1989 by Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Inc
Determining carpal collapse. An improved method
A Stahelin, K Pfeiffer, G Sennwald and G Segmuller
Hand Center, Chirurgie St. Leonhard, St. Gall, Switzerland.
The carpal height index (carpal height ratio of the diseased wrist divided
by that of the normal wrist, as described by Kato et al.) was calculated in
forty normal subjects, ten patients who had Stage-III lunatomalacia, and
eight patients who had non-union of a fracture of the scaphoid. The method
of Youm et al. for determining the carpal height index was altered to
include the use of defined points of reference and a standardized
radiographic technique. Two tests of reproducibility demonstrated the
reliability of the method. The carpal height index was found to be superior
to the carpal height ratio for the evaluation of unilateral disease. The
mean carpal height index of diseased wrists differed significantly from
that of normal wrists. The carpal height index (for unilateral disease) or
the carpal height ratio (for bilateral disease) can be used to describe the
progression of collapse of the wrist quantitatively and to evaluate and
compare various forms of treatment.
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