The hook-nail deformity after finger tip amputation is very common problem. This usually occurs after loss of part of the distal pulp, phalanx, and nail bed. This deformity for some patients is a trivial lesion and may be ignored, but it may be of great cosmetic significance or disabling with regard to certain occupations to the others. To correct the deformity, it is necessary to release volarly displaced nailbed, return it to its normal position, and provide adequate support to maintain correction by a carefully planned "antenna" procedure. Deformed nail is removed, tethered pulp is freed from distal phalanx, and then full thickness of the nail bed is elevated and splinted with multiple small Kirschner wires in a straight position like antennae. The coverage of defect created is done by cross finger flap. The knowledge of anatomy and physiology of nail and sorrunding structures is important to obtain good results and reduce secondary deformities. Two cases of antenna procedures for the hook nail deformily is reported with good results.
Amputation ; Bone Wires ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Fingers ; Humans ; Occupations ; Physiology ; Splints

In order to provide data for clinical approach to Hand-functional rehabilitation, we conducted this study on the relationships among flexor tendon load, tendon excursion and finger joint angle. Using the dynamic biomechanical test, three-dimension motion image analysis and computer analysis, we investigated eight intact normal male cadavers, hand mechanics of flexor tendon load, tendon excursion and joint angle. The results showed that, at the time when the top of finger touched the palm, the mean tendon load of flexor digitorum profundus(FDP) tendon was 7.9 N, the mean tendon excursion 43.4 mm, the mean total range of motion 237.0 degree. When the top of finger touched the palm, the mean tendon load of flexor digitorum superficial(FDS) tendon was 8.9 N, the mean tendon excursion 38.5 mm, and the mean total range of motion 206.3 degree. These findings demonstrated that there are some curvilinear relationships between flexor tendon load, tendon excursion and finger joint motion. When we flex our fists, the proximal interphalangeal(PIP) joint plays an important role in both FDP and FDS tendon.
Biomechanical Phenomena ; Cadaver ; Finger Joint ; physiology ; Fingers ; physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Muscle Contraction ; Muscle, Skeletal ; physiology ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Tendons ; physiology

This article reported researches on the pattern recognition of finger key-press gestures based on surface electromyographic (SEMG) signals. All the gestures were defined referring to the PC standard keyboard, and totally 16 sorts of key-press gestures relating to the right hand were defined. The SEMG signals were collected from the forearm of the subjects by 4 sensors. And two kinds of pattern recognition experiments were designed and implemented for exploring the feasibility and repeatability of the key-press gesture recognition based on SEMG signals. The results from 6 subjects showed, by using the same-day templates, that the average classification rates of 16 defined key-press gestures reached above 75.8%. Moreover, when the training samples added up to 5 days, the recognition accuracies approached those obtained with the same-day templates. The experimental results confirm the feasibility and repeatability of SEMG-based key-press gestures classification, which is meaningful for the implementation of myoelectric control-based virtual keyboard interaction.
Algorithms ; Electromyography ; methods ; Fingers ; Gestures ; Humans ; Movement ; physiology ; Muscle, Skeletal ; physiology ; Pattern Recognition, Automated ; methods ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted

OBJECTIVETo approach to the best therapy for recovery of fingers function after apoplexy. METHODS; One hundred and twenty-three cases were randomly divided into an observation group of 63 cases and a control group of 60 cases. The control group were treated by acupuncture at Quchi (LI 11), Shousanli ( LI 10), Waiguan (TE 5), etc., and the observation group by acupuncture at point "Xiajiquan" besides the acupoints for the control group. After treatment of 10 sessions, the therapeutic effects were assessed.

RESULTSThe cured and markedly effective rate was 74.6% in the observation group and 40.0% in the control group, the observation group being significantly better than the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONPoint "Xiajiquan" has a better therapeutic effect on derivation of finger muscular strength.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Fingers ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Muscle Strength ; physiology ; Stroke ; physiopathology ; therapy

BACKGROUND: Current examination methods to assess the anatomical variations of flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) tendon in the little finger necessitate a strong external force applied by the examiner and cause false negatives. A new examination method was designed to detect the variations more accurately. METHODS: We examined the little fingers of 220 adult hands (110 subjects) by 2 methods: the expanded examination method advocated by Tan et al., and a new examination method. Variations of the FDS in the little finger were examined by both methods and categorized separately as having independent FDS function, FDS connection to the tendons of the ring finger or of the multiple adjacent fingers, and functional substitution of the flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) with or without tendinous connection to the ring or multiple adjacent fingers. By our new method, we could further divide the FDS connection or FDP substitution with connection to the ring finger into 2 subtypes: loose and close connections. Data were reported as case numbers and percent. Date on symmetry were statistically analyzed by matched case-control studies. RESULTS: Among 220 hands, 113 hands (51.4%) had independent FDS function by the new examination method, which was lower than the incidence (55.5%) detected with the existing expanded examination method. In the hands with connections between FDS tendons of the little and the ring fingers, 32 hands (14.5%) demonstrated loose and 37 (16.8%) close connections. Three hands (1.4%) had loose and 19 (8.6%) had close FDP substitution with tendinous connection to the ring finger. Among 110 hands without independent FDS function, variants of 42 hands (38.2%) were asymmetric. There was no statistical significance in symmetry of variations. CONCLUSIONS: This new examination method offers other assessment variations of FDS tendon in the little finger. We recommend using this test to assess the variations and function of the FDS of the little finger.
Adult ; *Anatomic Variation ; Female ; Fingers/*anatomy & histology/physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Physical Examination/*methods ; Tendons/*anatomy & histology/physiology ; Young Adult

The aim of this study was to determine whether skin temperature measurement by digital thermography on hands and feet is useful for diagnosis of Raynaud's phenomenon (RP). Fifty-seven patients with RP (primary RP, n = 33; secondary RP, n = 24) and 146 healthy volunteers were recruited. After acclimation to room temperature for 30 min, thermal imaging of palmar aspect of hands and dorsal aspect of feet were taken. Temperature differences between palm (center) and the coolest finger and temperature differences between foot dorsum (center) and first toe significantly differed between patients and controls. The area under curve analysis showed that temperature difference of the coolest finger (cutoff value: 2.2degrees C) differentiated RP patients from controls (sensitivity/specificity: 67/60%, respectively). Temperature differences of first toe (cutoff value: 3.11degrees C) also discriminated RP patients (sensitivity/specificity: about 73/66%, respectively). A combination of thermographic assessment of the coolest finger and first toe was highly effective in men (sensitivity/specificity : about 88/60%, respectively) while thermographic assessment of first toe was solely sufficient for women (sensitivity/specificity: about 74/68%, respectively). Thermographic assessment of the coolest finger and first toe is useful for diagnosing RP. In women, thermography of first toe is highly recommended.
Adult ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Fingers/*physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; ROC Curve ; Raynaud Disease/*diagnosis ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Skin Temperature ; *Thermography ; Toes/*physiology

The hand strength of astronauts, when they are outside the space capsule, is highly influenced by the residual pressure (the pressure difference between inside pressure and outside one of the suit) of extravehicular activity spacesuit glove and the pressure exerted by braided fabric. The hand strength decreases significantly on extravehicular activity, severely reducing the operation efficiency. To measure mechanical influence caused by spacesuit glove on muscle-tendon and joints, the present paper analyzes the movement anatomy and biomechanical characteristics of gripping, and then proposes a grip model. With phalangeal joint simplified as hinges, seven muscles as a finger grip energy unit, the Hill muscle model was used to compute the effects. We also used ANSYS in this study to establish a 3-D finite element model of an index finger which included both bones and muscles with glove, and then we verified the model. This model was applied to calculate the muscle stress in various situations of bare hands or hands wearing gloves in three different sizes. The results showed that in order to achieve normal grip strength with the influence caused by superfluous press, the finger's muscle stress should be increased to 5.4 times of that in normal situation, with most of the finger grip strength used to overcome the influence of superfluous pressure. When the gap between the finger surface and the glove is smaller, the mechanical influence which superfluous press made will decrease. The results would provide a theoretical basis for the design of the EVA Glove.
Astronauts ; Fingers ; physiology ; Finite Element Analysis ; Gloves, Protective ; adverse effects ; Hand Strength ; physiology ; Humans ; Mechanical Phenomena ; Pressure ; Space Suits ; adverse effects

OBJECTIVETo reveal the force mechanism for therapeutic effect of pushing manipulation with one-finger meditation.

METHODSA total of 15 participants were recruited in this study and assigned to an expert group, a skilled group and a novice group, with 5 participants in each group. Mechanical signals were collected from a biomechanical testing platform, and these data were further observed via similarity analysis and cluster analysis.

RESULTSComparing the force waveforms of manipulation revealed that the manipulation forces were similar between the expert group and the skilled group (P>0.05). The mean value of vertical force was 9.8 N, and 95% CI rang from 6.37 to 14.70 N, but there were significant differences compared with the novice group (P<0.05). The result of overall similarity coefficient cluster analysis showed that two kinds of manipulation forces curves were existed between the expert group and the skilled group.

CONCLUSIONPushing manipulation with one-finger meditation is a kind of light stimulation manipulation on the acupoint, and force characteristics of double waveforms continuously alternated during manual operation.

Acupuncture Points ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; physiology ; Clinical Competence ; Fingers ; physiology ; Hand Strength ; physiology ; Humans ; Individuality ; Massage ; education ; methods ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Meditation ; methods ; Models, Theoretical ; Musculoskeletal Manipulations ; education ; methods ; standards

This study compared the effectiveness two-finger chest compression technique (TFCC) performed using the right vs. left hand and the index-middle vs. middle-ring fingers. Four different finger/hand combinations were tested randomly in 30 healthcare providers performing TFCC (Test 1: the right index-middle fingers; Test 2: the left index-middle fingers; Test 3: the right middle-ring fingers; Test 4: the left middle-ring fingers) using two cross-over trials. The "patient" was a 3-month-old-infant-sized manikin. Each experiment consisted of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) consisting of 2 minutes of 30:2 compression: ventilation performed by one rescuer on a manikin lying on the floor as if in cardiac arrest. Ventilations were performed using the mouth-to-mouth method. Compression and ventilation data were collected during the tests. The mean compression depth (MCD) was significantly greater in TFCC performed with the index-middle fingers than with the middle-ring fingers regardless of the hand (95% confidence intervals; right hand: 37.8-40.2 vs. 35.2-38.6 mm, P = 0.002; left hand: 36.9-39.2 vs. 35.5-38.1 mm, P = 0.003). A deeper MCD was achieved with the index-middle fingers of the right versus the left hand (P = 0.004). The ratio of sufficiently deep compressions showed the same patterns. There were no significant differences in the other data. The best performance of TFCC in simulated 30:2 compression: ventilation CPR performed by one rescuer on an infant in cardiac arrest lying on the floor was obtained using the index-middle fingers of the right hand. Clinical Trial Registry at the Clinical Research Information Service (KCT0001515).
Adult ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation/*methods ; Cross-Over Studies ; Female ; *Fingers ; Hand ; Heart Arrest/*therapy ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Manikins ; Models, Cardiovascular ; Thorax/physiology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the activation changes of the brain in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) while executing sequential finger tapping movement using the method of blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

METHODSFifteen patients with definite or probable ALS and fifteen age and gender matched normal controls were enrolled. MRI was performed on a 3. 0 Tesla scanner with standard headcoil. The functional images were acquired using a gradient echo single shot echo planar imaging (EPI) sequence. All patients and normal subjects executed sequential finger tapping movement at the frequency of 1-2 Hz during a block-design motor task. Structural MRI was acquired using a three-dimensional fast spoiled gradient echo (3D-FSPGR) sequence. The fMRI data were analyzed by statistical parametric mapping (SPM).

RESULTSBilateral primary sensorimotor cortex (PSM), bilateral premotor area (PA), bilateral supplementary motor area (SMA), bilateral parietal region (PAR), contralateral inferior lateral premotor area (ILPA), and ipsilateral cerebellum showed activation in both ALS patients and normal controls when executing the same motor task. The activation areas in bilateral PSM, bilateral PA, bilateral SMA, and ipsilateral cerebellum were significantly larger in ALS patients than those in normal controls (P < 0.05). Extra activation areas including ipsilateral ILPA, bilateral posterior limb of internal capsule, and contralateral cerebellum were only detected in ALS patients.

CONCLUSIONSSimilar activation areas are activated in ALS patients and normal subjects while executing the same motor task. The increased activation areas in ALS patients may represent neural reorganization, while the extra activation areas in ALS patients may indicate functional compensation.

Adult ; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Brain ; pathology ; Brain Mapping ; Female ; Fingers ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; instrumentation ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Movement ; physiology ; Neuronal Plasticity ; Oxygen ; blood