Three-dimensional rotations of human three-joint fingers: an optoelectronic measurement. Preliminary results

Abstract

Longitudinal axial rotations of phalanges during flexion motions of digits have scarcely been analyzed with current anatomical or radiological methods. Recent optoelectronic systems were developed for three-dimensional (3D) kinematic analysis of human motion. These systems have the advantages of being non-invasive and non-irradiating. The current study was based on the VICON optoelectronic system. A validation of the protocol was made among a sample of volunteers for further direct clinical applications. An experimental protocol was set up with adaptations to the requirements of finger analyses (multiple infrared markers inside small-sized capture volumes). The set-up and the protocol details are described. Kinematic studies consisted in recording the movements of the right hand of six volunteers (free from any visible pathology). Results were displayed for the joints of each three-joint finger with calculation of 3D rotations. Metacarpophalangeal (MCP), proximal interphalangeal (PIP) and distal interphalangeal (DIP) flexion angles ranged from 78 degrees to 118 degrees, 72 degrees to 119 degrees and 9 degrees to 66 degrees respectively. Lateral angles ranged from 5 degrees to 39 degrees (MCP), 4 degrees to 39 degrees (PIP) and 4 degrees to 30 degrees (DIP). Mean longitudinal axial rotations of MCP, PIP and DIP joints ranged from 11 degrees pronation to 26 degrees supination. The index finger was in a global pronation position (five of the six specimens). The fourth and fifth fingers were in a global supination position in every case. The third finger was in a more variable global rotation (pronation in four of the six specimens). An experimental protocol using an optoelectronic system (VICON) has been developed for a kinematic analysis of three-joint finger. A global measure study should be initiated among a wider sample of adults. A database should be created with direct clinical applications. Patients' kinematic deficits could be graded either for standard movements (flexion/extension and abduction/adduction) or for longitudinal axial rotations.

Validation and Application of a Computational Model for Wrist and Hand Movements Using Surface Markers

“…It was, therefore, not possible to compare these results. Some studies did report the repeated accuracy of their models; Carpinella et al, reported a repeated accuracy of [5], Degeorges et al, reported a repeated accuracy of [10], and Dipietro et al, reported a repeated accuracy of [7]. In addition, Carpinella, et al, also reports a 10-min application time for markers to be placed on participants [5].…”

“…Also to be considered are certain impairments where spasticity, joint subluxation or deformation would hinder the correct application of the marker set, or are cumbersome for patients to wear in addition to concentrating on functional tasks. Complex marker placement methods may also increase the assessment time needed for a patient to attend a trial and in addition, some methods require static calibration trials to identify intermarker distances and marker triads with respect to markers that were positioned on boney landmarks during static calibrations [1], [10], [13], [15], [26]. Compared to previously published techniques, the proposed marker placement system is simple, using single markers that will not interfere with the movements of the fingers.…”

“…The work of Degeorges et al [10] is concerned with only modeling 3-D rotations of the index finger joints. Their protocol uses a system of markers placed at the end of rods in triads to denote the axis for each segment.…”

“…As an example, four commonly used marker placement methods to gather information regarding the movement of the proximal interphalangeal joint of the second finger are: 1) three linear markers placed in the metacarpophalangeal, proximal, and distal interphalangeal joints [5], [15]; 2) two markers placed at the distal and proximal heads of the proximal and medial phalanges of the second finger [4], [16] (four markers in total); 3) three noncollinear markers forming a triangle placed on both the proximal and medial phalanges of the second finger [3] (six markers in total); 4) a rod axis system consisting of three or more noncollinear markers on a frame above the joint or phalanx [9], [10]. Marker placement methods 2-4 are useful in a biomechanical research setting where the objective is to minimize as much as possible the effects of skin movement on an identified segment.…”

Validity of a simple videogrammetric method to measure the movement of all hand segments for clinical purposes

“…It has been widely used in gait analysis, but its application to the hand movement analysis is still scarce. 8 Most works in the literature present its use only for one finger, [9][10][11] or they consider important kinematical simplifications, [12][13][14] especially in describing the kinematics of the thumb and in considering the palm as a rigid body. In recent works, Cerveri et al 15 and Chang and Pollard 16 presented a method for the accurate measurement of the thumb CMC joint taking into account the real orientation and location of the F/E and Ab/Ad rotation axes.…”