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Salvage Procedures to the DRU Joint

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Abstract

When the distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) is destroyed after a distal radius fracture with or without additional laxity, the remaining surgical option is to salvage function and try to remove pain. Historically the option was to remove the ulnar head. This has turned out to produce new problems such as ulnar stump impingement and severe instability. The Sauvé-Kapandji procedure gives more stability to the wrist, but the stump impingement is still a problem in some cases. Ulnar head implants of different shapes have been developed. An ulnar head replacement can restore the biomechanical properties of the joint. The choice of method is depending on the patient’s specific needs. None of the methods are ideal and none can restore normal function, strength, durability and absence of pain. Nevertheless until now, most reports are promising.

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Correspondence to Dorte Engelund MD .

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© 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Engelund, D., Ryge, C. (2014). Salvage Procedures to the DRU Joint. In: Hove, L., Lindau, T., Hølmer, P. (eds) Distal Radius Fractures. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-54604-4_43

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-54604-4_43

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-54603-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-54604-4

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