metacarpal
1
7.1
- adjective
- /ˌmɛtəˈkɑrpəl/
- Specialized
:
metacarpiano
- Proper alignment of the metacarpal is crucial for maintaining grip strength and dexterity.
- metacarpal length
- metacarpal bone
- metacarpal fracture
Examples
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No final shortening was present after anatomical restoration in the operative group, while metacarpal length was reduced by 2.22 mm following conservative management.
Academic text (2015) -
In summary, surgical restoration of metacarpal length has long been the traditional approach to nonscissoring spiral metacarpal fractures based on the assumption that metacarpal shortening compromises function.
Academic text (2015) -
Historically, spiral fractures occurring without scissoring have been treated surgically to restore metacarpal length and prevent these losses in power and function.
Academic text (2015) -
Because this shortening can theoretically lead to a decrease in power, a surgical approach has often been used in the management of these fractures to preserve metacarpal length (16).
Academic text (2015) -
The results obtained from the current study support others in the literature (9, 10, 16) that demonstrate that the loss of metacarpal length associated with these fractures is limited to a degree of shortening that is not consistent with power deficits sufficiently large to significantly affect functional recovery in the hand.
Academic text (2015) -
Several studies have documented the relationship between shortening and hand function (1, 9, 12, 14-21), although the maximum amount of shortening that occurs following metacarpal fracture and acceptable limits appear to be controversial.
Academic text (2015) -
Because near-complete restoration of metacarpal length is obtained by a surgical approach, one can postulate that the power deficits resulting from the operative management of these fractures may be associated with the soft tissue damage and complications resulting from the surgical approach itself.
Academic text (2015) -
We conducted a prospective consecutive case series of unoperated, nonscissoring spiral metacarpal fractures to document the effect of conservative management on resultant power in the hand despite the metacarpal shortening that is often associated with these fractures.
Academic text (2015) -
The surgeon repaired the broken metacarpal to restore the patient's hand function.
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During the examination, the doctor noted swelling in the metacarpal region of the patient's hand.
Compounds
- Specialized
A vein on the back or palm of the hand that carries blood away from the middle of the hand
Surface Forms
Morphology
metacarpal = metacarpus (opaque) = meta + carp + al
Although analyzable as meta- + carp + -al, the term is a specialized anatomical form that an average B1 learner would not infer from the parts.
Etymology
Metacarpal comes from Greek parts meta- 'after' and carp- 'wrist', the same origin as the noun. So as an adjective, metacarpal means 'relating to' the bones or area between the wrist and the fingers.