Abstract
Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the contribution of the palmar radiocarpal
ligament and the palmar ulnocarpal ligament to canine antebrachiocarpal joint stability.
Materials and Methods The right carpus of four dog cadavers, free of musculoskeletal pathology, was stripped
of muscle. Each specimen was placed into a custom-made joint testing machine and tested
at 15° extension, and 0° and 15° flexion. A single motion tracking sensor was fixed
to the metacarpal bones. All specimens were tested with all ligaments intact and after
transection of the palmar radiocarpal and ulnocarpal ligaments. A range of weights
between 0.2 and 2.0 kg was used to test the carpi in three directions (axial, medial/lateral
and cranial/caudal) and two moments (pronation/supination and valgus/varus).
Results No differences were found between the translations and rotations of the manus relative
to the radius and ulna with the ligaments intact and the ligaments transected at any
of the carpal angles tested, except at 15° of flexion. Increasing the angle of flexion
resulted in a significant increase in cranial and caudal translation of the manus
relative to the radius and ulna both in the intact and transected specimens.
Clinical relevance Antebrachiocarpal joint position plays a more important role in craniocaudal antebrachiocarpal
joint stability than the palmar radiocarpal and ulnocarpal ligaments.
Keywords
joint stability - carpus - dog - palmar radiocarpal ligament - palmar ulnocarpal ligament
