Study of Thumb Base Joint Motion with 4D CT

Rationale:
Osteoarthritis is a disease that lead to irreversible joint damage and disability. Thumb base joint is one of the most common forms (Saeede Dahaghin et al., 2005; Ganhewa et al., 2019; Oo et al., 2019). Implant replacement is one of the surgical treatments. Although patients have a better satisfaction with implants than other surgical treatments, the durability and post-operative function are not optimal (Cooney, 2010; Ganhewa et al., 2019). The reasons behind are complicated, e.g., the biomechanical factors and the pathology of the osteoarthritis development at thumb base joint is are not clear. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the geometry and the motion of the bones and joint (Ladd et al., 2013). By developing a better understanding of the thumb base joint, might able to provide a guidance to optimize the implant designs for thumb base joint. Besides, the patients and clinicians might also be benefits from the results of this study.

Objective: To access the geometry and the motion of thumb base joint.

Study design: Quantitative study: Statistical analysis and modelling of the geometry and the motion of the 4D CT data.

Study population: Healthy (adult) participants with no trauma or disease at the wrist.

Main study parameters/endpoints: Statistical models of shapes and the motions will be developed based on the collected healthy cases.

Nature and extent of the burden and risks associated with participation, benefit and group relatedness: Participants will receive radiation when they have 4D CT scans for both hands. However, the radiation doses have been mitigated and are acceptable for category IIa research. There is no direct benefit to the participant. However, this could help to develop a better understanding of carpal bones and joints.

The outcomes of this research might provide a better guidance for implant design

one measurement will be performed, at inclusion