Patterns of Trapeziometacarpal Articular Vartilage Wear in Japanese Cadavers: What Can Be Expected?

Introduction: the purpose of this study was to put forth hypotheses regarding possible wear patterns of the articular cartilage of the trapeziometacarpal (TMC) joints in Japanese cadavers. The TMC joint is frequently affected by osteoarthritis (OA), which is associated with degeneration of the articular cartilage. Detailed knowledge about the wear locations of the articular cartilage is important to obtain a clearer understanding of the etiology of the TMC OA and better manage the condition. This article presents an overview of the anatomy, biomechanics, and wear locations of the articular cartilage of the TMC joint. We further discuss "what might be expected in future studies in Japanese cadavers in relation to the wear patterns of the articular cartilage of the TMC joint". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]