Anatomical relationship of palmar carpal bone landmarks used in locating the lunate and capitate during palpation: A cadaveric investigation.

STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive in situ cadaveric study. INTRODUCTION: Performing accurately directed examination and treatment to the wrist requires clinicians to orient to carpal bone structures. PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: To examine the anatomical relationships that exist within the wrist-hand complex and identify the accuracy of surface anatomy mapping strategies for localizing anatomical landmarks using a palmar approach. METHODS: Twenty-three embalmed cadavers were dissected using standardized procedures. Metal markers were placed in the most prominent palmar landmark of key carpal structures. Relationships between the most prominent palpation landmarks and the carpal bones of interest were visualized using fluoroscopy. RESULTS: The most successful methods of palmar capitate localization included the midpoint of a line from trapezium tubercle to pisiform; the midpoint of a line from scaphoid tubercle to hamate hook; or the intersection (cross) of these 2 diagonal lines, with successful capitate identification 100% (23/23) of the time. The most successful method for locating the lunate included the midpoint of a line from the radial styloid process to the ulnar styloid process, which identified the lunate in 100% (23/23) of cases. DISCUSSION: The results of this cadaveric anatomical relationship study support the use of the midpoint of a line from pisiform to trapezium tubercle, the midpoint of a line from scaphoid tubercle to hamate hook, or a combination (cross) of these lines to locate the capitate from a palmar approach. In addition, the anatomical relationships examined in this study support the use of the midpoint of a line from the radial styloid process to ulnar styloid process to locate the lunate from a palmar approach. Knowledge of these anatomical relationships may improve the clinician's confidence in locating the capitate and lunate during intercarpal examination, special testing, and treatment. CONCLUSION: Results of this study provide information of the anatomical relationships of the carpal bones from a palmar approach, giving clinicians a foundation for proper orientation to the carpal bones during clinical examination and intervention. Further research is needed to evaluate the reliability and accuracy of these methods for surface palpation on live patients.

Analysis of Sex and Gender Content in Allied Health Professions' Curricula.

Sex and gender differences in rehabilitation are important because more than half of patients seen by allied health professionals are female. Sex- and gender-specific curricula should be audited to enhance interprofessional education in women's health. The research question was: What is the extent of information about sex and gender differences that is included in selected allied health professions curricula? Student scholars from allied health programs audited courses in real time for references to sex and gender differences. The data were analyzed using content analysis. The emphasis of instruction included primarily statements of facts for the physical and occupational therapy programs and brief discussions in the athletic training program. There was a significant difference among the categories of emphasis for the programs (X2 = 391.23, p<0.05). The individual disciplines identified the majority of content in the same rank order: body systems, health statistics, and health conditions. There were significant differences in the content areas related to sex and gender differences among the three disciplines (X2 = 70.67, p<0.05). This study provided the first content analysis of sex and gender differences in selected allied health professions. No textual inferences were made, but the study reported on the topics discussed and the extent of the sharing of information.

Physiological Effects of Aquatic Exercise in Pregnant Women on Bed Rest.

This pilot study examined the effectiveness of an Aquatic Exercise Program (AEP) provided by an occupational therapist for pregnant women on hospitalized bed rest. Researchers conducted a retrospective analysis of medical records of hospitalized pregnant women comparing those who attended an AEP (n = 19) to a control group who received no AEP (n = 12). Statistical tests were used to assess evidence of differences in length of gestation as well as blood pressure and amniotic fluid index (AFI) at discharge. Women who received an AEP had increased AFI and length of gestation compared to the control group. This study supports the use of an AEP as an intervention for pregnant women on prescribed bed rest. Further research is recommended to validate these findings with a larger sample.