Statistical shape modelling of the first carpometacarpal joint reveals high variation in morphology

Abstract

The first carpometacarpal (CMC) joint, located at the base of the thumb and formed by the junction between the first metacarpal and trapezium, is a common site for osteoarthritis of the hand. The shape of both the first metacarpal and trapezium contributes to the intrinsic bony stability of the jointandvariability in the morphology of both these bones can affect the joint’s function. The objectivesof this study wereto quantify the morphological variation of the complete metacarpal and trapeziumand determine anycorrelation between anatomical features ofthese two components of the first CMC joint. A multi-object statistical shape modelling pipeline, consisting of scaling, hierarchical rigid registration, non-rigid registration and projection pursuit principal component analysis, was implemented. Four anatomical measureswere quantified from the shape model, namely the first metacarpal articular tilt and torsion angles and the trapeziumlength and width.Variationsin the first metacarpal articulartilt angle (-6.3°<θ<12.3°) and trapezium width (10.28mm <𝓌<11.13mm)wereidentified in the firstprincipal component. In the second principal component, variationsin the first metacarpal14torsion angle (0.2°<α<14.2°), first metacarpal articular tilt angle (1.0°<θ<6.4°) and trapezium length (12.25mm <ℓ<17.33mm)weredetermined. Due to their implications for joint stability, the first metacarpal articular tilt angle and trapezium width maybe important anatomical features which couldbe used toadvance early detectionand treatment offirst CMC joint osteoarthritis.