Description:
<jats:p>This study describes a mechanical tool which allows us to determine the radius and center of curved joint surfaces both intraoperatively and in vitro. The tool is composed of longitudinal parallel hinges, connected with cross bars on one end. In the middle of each cross bar, one needle is attached at an angle of 90deg to both the hinges and the cross bars. When the parallel hinges are held against a curved surface, they will adapt to the curvature and the needles on the cross bars will cross each other. The crossing point of two needles represents the mean center of the curvature within the plane spanned by the needles. The radius is the distance between the center of curvature and the joint surface. The proposed tool and method allow us to determine the mean center of convex or concave curvatures, which often represent the isometric point of a corresponding curved joint surface. Knowing the radius and center of curvature may facilitate various surgical procedures such as collateral or cruciate ligament reconstruction. Appropriate adaptations of the tool appear to be a useful basis for biomechanical and anatomical joint analyses in the laboratory.</jats:p>