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Surg Radiol Anat (2011) 33:6570 DOI 10.1007/s00276-010-0693-6
ANATOMIC BASES OF MEDICAL, RADIOLOGICAL AND SURGICAL TECHNIQUES
The thickness of the sagittal bands in volunteers: high resolution ultrasound of the Wngers
Mimoun Kichouh Michel De Maeseneer Tjeerd Jager Stefaan Marcelis
Eddy Van Hedent Johan De Mey
Received: 19 May 2010 / Accepted: 24 June 2010 / Published online: 15 July 2010 Springer-Verlag 2010
Abstract
Purpose A sign of injury of the sagittal bands is thickening. The normal values for the thickness of the sagittal bands has not been described before. Our purpose was to measure the thickness of the sagittal bands with ultrasound in normal volunteers and compare diVerences between radial and ulnar band, dominant and non-dominant hand, diVerent Wngers, and men and women.
Materials and methods In 21 volunteers (10 men, 11 women), high resolution ultrasound imaging of the Wngers was performed by two radiologists. The index, mid Wnger, ring Wnger and little Wnger were analyzed. The mean values were obtained for each Wnger. Statistical diVerences were calculated with a two-tailed Students t test.
Results The thickness of the sagittal bands showed a wide range of variations. Statistically signiWcant diVerences were not found between the radial and ulnar band, dominant and non-dominant hand, and diVerent Wngers. Between men and women a signiWcant diVerence was found for the ulnar band of index and ring Wnger of the dominant hand. Conclusion The measurements of the sagittal bands show a wide range of values. Statistically signiWcant diVerences for the means were only found for the ulnar band of index
and ring Wnger of the dominant hand between men and women.
Keywords Dorsal hood Sagittal bands Ultrasound Fingers
Introduction
The dorsal hood is a complex retinacular system that stabilizes the extensor tendon at the dorsum of the metacarpophalangeal joint (MCP) and proximal phalanx. Particularly, the sagittal bands, which are the most important part of the dorsal hood, stabilize the extensor tendon at the dorsum of the MCP [6, 16, 17, 19, 21]. Lesions of the sagittal bands include various conditions such as boxer knuckle, synovial disorders and after repetitive microtrauma [12, 18, 19]. An untreated sagittal band rupture can lead to chronic pain, snapping and dysfunction of the aVected Wnger [2, 5, 13]. The sagittal band is mainly made...