THE RADIOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF WEB HEIGHT

Web creep is a common complication following surgical release of synda ctyly. Currently, normal web height has not been objectively determine d, which prevents accurate analysis of the degree of web creep after s urgery. The purpose of this study was to design a technique to reprodu cibly measure web height and to define the standard web height in a co ntrol population. Four hundred thirty-seven standard left posteroanter ior hand x-rays of children without any upper extremity pathology were evaluated. Web height was measured as a relative ratio to digital len gth using standard landmarks. All measurements were tabulated accordin g to gender, age, and web space. Statistical analysis was performed to determine the reliability of this technique and to delineate any diff erences between web space, gender, and age. There was no significant i ntraobserver or interobserver difference and web height was similar in males and females. There was a significant difference between web hei ght with respect to web location and age. Normal ranges of web height with regard to age and web position were determined and plotted as gra phs. Using this measurement method, web creep can be evaluated and com parison studies of different surgical techniques performed. (J Hand Su rg 1998;23A:1071-1076. Copyright (C) 1998 by the American Society for Surgery of the Hand.).