Normative study of paediatric hand in an Indian population and a novel method of measurement of first web space arc radius

Abstract

The aesthetic appearance of the thumb hasn’t been analysed to a similar extent as thumb function which would aid during reconstructive surgeries of the thumb and first web space and analyse its outcome. The purpose of this study is to determine the relative length, girth, nail width of thumb with respect to the index finger and intermetacarpal distance. Measurement of the 1st web space arc radius has been done to tackle the problem of webbing which is not addressed by IMD and palmar abduction angles. A total of 482 hands in 241 subjects were studied to measure the relative length of the thumb with respect to the index finger, the relative nail width of thumb with respect to index finger, the relative girth of IP joint of thumb with respect to PIP joint of index finger and Intermetacarpal distance was calculated. The 1st web space arc radius was calculated by the “best arc fit” with the thumb in maximum radial abduction using a radius gauge. The data collected was analysed by age, gender, laterality of the hand and the height and weight of the child. Hands of subjects of which with a mean age of years were analysed. The relative Thumb length, girth and nail width remained independent of age. It has been observed that the reliability of the measurements between the right and left web space arc radius measurement is significant [ICC– p value