Useful measurements in the evaluation of hand radiographs.

Measurements are useful in the radiologic evaluation of the hand. They permit an objective evaluation of subtle alterations in the relative lengths of hand bones, which may be useful in the diagnosis of many congenital malformation syndromes. Evaluation of width of the carpus can be useful in the evaluation of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis as well as many bone dysplasias. Carpal angle measures, the relative position of the distal radius and ulna, as well as cortical measures of the second metacarpal have many clinical applications.