Soft-tissue thickness of the wrist

Increase in the soft-tissue thickness of the wrist is said to be a sensitive indicator of early oedema due to generalised or local arthritic disease. No normal values are available. Measurement of the soft-tissue thickness opposite the radial and ulnar styloid processes in a random population demonstrated a large normal range which was not related to obesity. This large normal variation calls into question the accuracy of radiological evaluation of early wrist oedema.