Clinical research on three methods of measuring the first web space in infants
SUN Li-ying
TIAN Wen
ZHU Ke-nan
ZHAO Jun-hui
YANG Yong
LIU Kun
GUO Yang
YIN Yao-bin
TIAN Guang-lei
ZHONG Wen-yao
Abstract：Objective To assess reliability of 3 palmar abduction measurement methods about the first web space in little children ( 1.5 - 3 years old ), and to derive normative data. Methods One hundred patients ( 80 duplication thumbs on one side, 20 thumbs on one side with tenosynovitis ) were involved between February and November in 2016. They were 18 months to 3 years old, with an average age of ( 24.2 ± 5.1 ) months. The patient cohort consisted of 64 boys and 36 girls. One observer used the special vernier caliper and goniometer to measure the first web space distance in Cambridge-Keeling method, and the intermetacarpal distance ( IMD ) and derived intermetacarpal angle ( DIMA ) between the first and second metacarpal on 100 normal sides in Murugkar method to acquire the normal data. The other one observer measured 40 sides independently about the first web space distance, IMD and DIMA to determine the intraobserver reliability. Results The mean value of the first web space distance in Cambridge-Keeling method was ( 2.60 ± 0.31 ) cm, and the normal reference ( x- ± 2s ) was from 1.98 cm to 3.22 cm. No significant differences were observed in terms of genders ( t = 1.552, P = 0.125 ) and dominant hands ( t = 0.304, P = 0.762 ). The mean length of IMD was ( 3.46 ± 0.30 ) cm, and the normal length should be ( 2.86 - 4.06 ) cm. There were significant differences between the 2 groups ( t = 2.117, P = 0.038 ). No significant differences were observed between the 2 sides ( t = 0.591, P = 0.556 ). The mean value of DIMA was ( 43.43 ± 3.43 ) °, and the normal reference ( x- ± 2s ) was from 36.57° to 50.29°. No significant differences were observed in terms of genders ( t = 0.630, P = 0.531 ) and dominant hands ( t = 0.588, P = 0.559 ). The intraclass correlation coefficient ( ICC ) values for intraobserver reliability about the first web space distance, IMD and DIMA were 0.74, 0.80 and 0.71, respectively. Conclusions ICC of the first web space distance, IMD and DIMA indicates substantial reliability to assess the first web space in Cambridge-Keeling method and in Murugkar method in little children, and the IMD demonstrates excellent reliability.
Keywords：HandChildpre ( 2 - 5 )Inf ( 1 - 23 mo )Data collectionFirst web space
Publication Date：2017-01-01
Online Publishing Date：2025-08-15(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：4( 244-247 )