DOES THE NORMAL CONTRALATERAL WRIST PROVIDE THE BEST REFERENCE FOR X-RAY-FILM MEASUREMENTS OF THE PATHOLOGICAL WRIST

This study compares in normal subjects the variability of wrist x-ray film measurements between the right and left sides with the variabilit y of the distribution of those measurements within the population. Add itional purposes were to evaluate possible differences of these measur ements according to sex, age, side, and hand dominance. The variabilit y when comparing both sides was found to be statistically less for the carpal height, radiolunate, scapholunate, and capitolunate angles tha n within the whole group of subjects, and for those measurements, ther e was a high correlation (r > .88) between the right and left sides. I n addition, the carpal height and the carporadial ratios were lower an d the capitolunate angle was higher in women than in men. There was al so a significant decrease of the scapholunate angle in older individua ls. The clinical implication of these findings is that in unilateral w rist diseases, the normal wrist should be used to provide the referenc e values of the carpal height and of the carpal angles on profile x-ra y films. However, for the radial inclination and palmar tilt of the di stal radius and for the ulnar variance, the normal side does not provi de a better reference than normal values obtained from databases.