ARTHROSIS IN THE PERITRAPEZIAL JOINTS OF THE HAND

In the present study saddle joints of the thumb and neighboring joints of 100 anatomic specimens are examined with regard to radiological an d macroscopic arthrotic alterations. Comparisons of radiological and m acroscopic findings demonstrate that early arthrotic articular alterat ions cannot be diagnosed radiologically. Almost half of the hands exam ined displayed arthrotic lesions in the saddle joint of the thumb, whe reas the trapezoido-scaphoidal and trapezio-scaphoidal joints are each affected in one third. Hands with manifest thumb saddle joint arthros is are accompanied by arthrotic alterations of the joints between the scaphoid, trapezium and trapezoid in two-thirds of the cases. In the r emaining radial intercarpal joints, no macroscopic evidence can be asc ertained of arthrotic alterations. Among the processes discussed as ca usal factors of simultaneous incidence of scaphoidal and carpo-metacar pal arthroses, the architecture of the osseous carpus, the individual expression of the scaphoid bone and poly- or secondary arthrotic proce sses are important.