Changes in the intra-articular pressure inside the radiocarpal joint with different volumes of the intra-articular fluid

Abstract

Intra-articular pressure was measured in 14 carpal joints of 7 fresh corpses of adults, who had not any diseases of the above joints in their case histories, after introduction of 2, 3 and 5 ml of a fluid inside the joint cavity with the normal position of the hand, as well as after its maximum flexion, extension, adduction and abduction. It was found out that the lowest pressure in the above joint was observed in cases of the neutral hand position, which was accepted to be with 5° of dorsal flexion and 10. of ulnar deviation. The maximum extension and abduction resulted in the most significant rise of pressure: more than 10 times versus the neutral position. The maximum flexion and adduction were accompanied with an increase of intra-articular pressure too. A strong positive correlation was demonstrated between intra-articular pressure and fluid volume in the joint in cases of the examined hand positions. The volume of the intra-articular cavity of the radiocarpal joint was approximately determined as equal to 2 cm3