Skip to main content

Treatment of the Associated Ulnar-Sided Problems

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Arthroscopic Management of Distal Radius Fractures

Abstract

Ulnar impaction, ulnar styloid impaction (USI), ligamentous injury, chondral lesions, associated TFC tear (triangular fibrocartilage) with or without instability [18–20], and sigmoid fossa derangements can all be associated with a radius malunion (Fig. 13.1). Although it is true that treatment of the radius malunion itself might partially correct some of the problems, particularly those caused by axial shortening (USI), many other will remain unaddressed, and will be a source of pain and patient dissatisfaction. On the other hand, the isolated treatment of the associated injuries can be sufficient to ease the patient’s symptoms without addressing the radius, and a less involved postoperative course. Arthroscopic exploration allows the assessment of the impact that those associated injuries might have on the patient’s symptoms and the degree of improvement by the radius osteotomy itself, and also helps to evaluate if additional maneuvers (arthroscopic or open) are needed for addressing concomitant injuries.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Adams BD. Anatomic reconstruction of the distal radioulnar ligaments for DRUJ instability. Tech Hand Up Extrem Surg. 2000;4(3):154–60

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Atzei A. New trend in arthroscopic management of type 1-B TFCC injuries with DRUJ instability. J Hand Surg Eur. 2009;20:1–10

    Google Scholar 

  3. Atzei A, Luchetti R, Fairplay T. Arthroscopic foveal repair of triangular fibrocartilage complex peripheral lesion with distal radioulnar joint instability. Tech Hand Up Extrem Surg. 2008;12(4):226–35

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Bain GI, Bidwell TA. Arthroscopic excision of ulnar styloid in stylocarpal impaction. Arthroscopy. 2006;22:677.e1–e3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Bain GI, Pourgiezis NP. Surgical approaches to the distal radioulnar joint. Tech Hand Up Extrem Surg. 2007;11(1): 51–6

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Bernstein MA, Nagle DJ, Martinez A, Stogin JM, Wiedrich TA. A comparison of combined arthroscopic triangular fibrocartilage complex debridement and arthroscopic wafer distal ulna resection versus arthroscopic triangular fibrocartilage complex debridement and ulnar shortening osteotomy for ulnocarpal abutment syndrome. Arthroscopy. 2004;20: 392–401

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Bickel KD. Arthroscopic treatment of ulnar impaction syndrome. J Hand Surg. 2008;33A:1420–3

    Google Scholar 

  8. Cerezal L, del Piñal F, Abascal F, Garcia-Valtuille R, Pereda T, Canga A. Imaging findings in ulnar-sided wrist impaction syndromes. Radiographics 2002;22(1):105–20

    Google Scholar 

  9. Chun S, Palmer AK. The ulnar impaction syndrome: follow-up of ulnar shortening osteotomy. J Hand Surg Am. 1993; 1818:46–53

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. del Piñal F. The 1-B “Constellation”: a sub-classification of TFCC tears. EWAS session, FEESH Poznam 2009

    Google Scholar 

  11. del Piñal F, Garcia-Bernal FJ, Delgado J, Sammartçn M, Regaldo J, Cerezal L. Correction of malunited intra-articular distal radius fractures with an Inside-out osteotomy technique. J Hand Surg Am. 2006;31A:1029–34

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Del Piñal F, García-Bernal FJ, Studer A, Regalado J, Ayala H, Cagigal L. Sagittal rotational malunions of the distal radius: the role of pure derotational osteotomy. J Hand Surg Eur. 2009;34:160–5

    Google Scholar 

  13. Feldon P, Terrono AL, Belsky MR. Wafer distal ulna resection for triangular fibrocartilage tears and/or ulna impaction syndrome. J Hand Surg. 1992;17A:731–7

    Google Scholar 

  14. Fernandez DL. Correction of post-traumatic wrist deformity in adults by osteotomy, bone-grafting, and internal fixation. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1982;64-A:1164–78

    Google Scholar 

  15. Garcia-Elias M. Dorsal fractures of the triquetrum-avulsion or compression fractures? J Hand Surg Am. 1987;12:266–8

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Garcia-Elias M. Soft-tissue anatomy and relationships about the distal ulna. Hand Clin. 1998;14:165–76

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Giachino AA, McIntyre AI, Gui KJ, Conway AF. Ulnar styloid triquetral impaction. Hand Surg. 2007;12(2):123–34

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Lindau T. Cartilage injuries in distal radial fractures. Acta Orthop Scand. 2003;74(3):327–31

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Lindau T, Adlercreutz C, Aspenberg P. Peripheral TFCC tears and instability of the distal radioulnar joint after distal radial fractures. J Hand Surg. 2000;22A:464–8

    Google Scholar 

  20. Lindau TR, Arner M, Hagberg L. Intra-articular lesions in distal radius fractures in young adults: a descriptive, arthroscopic study in 50 patients. J Hand Surg [Br]. 1997; 22-B(5):639–43

    Google Scholar 

  21. Loftus JB. Arthroscopic wafer for ulnar impaction syndrome. Tech Hand Up Extrem Surg. 2000;4:182–8

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Loh YC, Den Abbellek V, Stanley JK, et al. The results of ulnar shortening for ulnar impaction syndrome. J Hand Surg Br. 1999;24:316–20

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Luchetti R, Borelli PP, Atzei P. Moderni orientamenti nel trattamento delle fratture. Il trattamento delle fratture di polso. In: AIOD Sezione Italiana, OTC Sezione Italiana, editors. Moderni orientamenti nel trattamento delle fratture. Italia, Milano: Springer. Stryker Italia Education Program. 2008. p. 519–88

    Google Scholar 

  24. Mathoulin C, Pagnotta A. Resection arthroscopique distale de l’ulna dans les conflits. Chir Main. 2006;25S:202–8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Nakamura T, Makita A. The proximal ligamentous component of the triangular fibrocartilage complex: functional anatomy and three-dimensional changes in length of the radioulnar ligament during pronation-supination. J Hand Surg Br. 2000;25:479–86

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Nakamura T, Nakao Y, Ikegami H, Sato K, Takayama S. Open repair of the ulnar disruption of the triangular fibrocartilage complex with double three-dimensional mattress suturing technique. Tech Hand Up Extrem Surg. 2004;8:116–23

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Palmer AK. Triangular fibrocartilage complex lesions: a classification. J Hand Surg. 1989;14A:594–606

    Google Scholar 

  28. Sachar K. Ulnar-sided wrist pain: evaluation and treatment of triangular fibrocartilage complex tears, ulnocarpal impaction syndrome, and lunotriquetral ligament tears. J Hand Surg. 2008;33A:1669–79

    Google Scholar 

  29. Scheker LR, Ozer K. Ligamentous stabilization of the distal radioulnar joint. Tech Hand Up Extrem Surg. 2004;8:239–46

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Slutsky DJ. Distal radioulnar joint arthroscopy and the volar ulnar portal. Tech Hand Upper Extrem Surg. 2007; 11(1): 38–44

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Scheker LR, Slutsky OK, Tay SC DJ, Tomita K, Berger RA. The “ulnar fovea sign” for defining ulnar wrist pain: an analysis of sensitivity and specificity. J Hand Surg Am. 2007;32: 438–44

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Tolat AR, Stanley JK, Trail IA. A cadaveric study of the anatomy and stability of the distal radioulnar joint in the coronal and transverse planes. J Hand Surg Br. 1996;21:587–94

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Tolat AR, Stanley JK, Tomaino TIA, MM EJ. Ulnar impaction syndrome. Hand Clin. 2005;21:567–75

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Tolat AR, Stanley JK, Tomaino TIA, MM EJ, Topper SM, Wood MB, et al. Ulnar styloid impaction syndrome. J Hand Surg Am. 1997;22:699–704

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Tolat AR, Stanley JK, Tomaino TIA, MM EJ, Topper SM, Wood MB, et al. Force transmission through the distal ulna: effect of ulnar variance, lunate fossa angulation, and radial and palmar tilt of the distal radius. J Hand Surg Am. 1992;17: 423–8

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pier Paolo Borelli .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2010 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Borelli, P.P., Luchetti, R. (2010). Treatment of the Associated Ulnar-Sided Problems. In: Piñal, F., Luchetti, R., Mathoulin, C. (eds) Arthroscopic Management of Distal Radius Fractures. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-05354-2_13

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-05354-2_13

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-05353-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-05354-2

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics