1ST WEB SPACE CONTRACTURE AND HAND FUNCTION

We studied 125 normal volunteers to determine the normal first web spa ce angle and to evaluate the influence of thumb-index finger web space contracture on hand function. One hundred ninety-five hands were meas ured and found to have a mean web space angle of 100 degrees. There wa s no significant difference in the mean angle in relation to sex or ha nd dominance. The mean angle was significantly smaller for persons 50 to 79 years of age than for the two younger age groups. Twenty-five no rmal volunteers (50 hands) took the Jebsen-Taylor test three times: fi rst, with no restrictions; second, with splints simulating a 60-degree web space contracture; and third, with splints simulating a 30-degree contracture. More than half of the volunteers had abnormal small-obje ct subtests. Other abnormal subtests included card turning, feeding, a nd stacking checkers. Grasping large light and heavy objects was less difficult because of compensatory techniques used by the volunteers.