Clin Orthop Surg.  2012 Sep;4(3):216-220. 10.4055/cios.2012.4.3.216.

Positive or Negative Ulnar Variance after Ulnar Shortening for Ulnar Impaction Syndrome: A Retrospective Study

• Cha SM
• Shin HD
• Kim KC

• KMID: 1392984
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4055/cios.2012.4.3.216

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The goal of this study was to compare simple radiographic findings and clinical results according to residual ulnar variance following ulnar shortening for ulnar impaction syndrome.
METHODS
Forty-five cases of ulnar impaction syndrome, which were treated with ulnar shortening from 2005 to 2008, were studied retrospectively. Group I included 13 cases with positive residual variance after ulnar shortening and group II included 32 cases with negative variance after shortening. The presence of a lunate cystic lesion both preoperatively and at final follow-up and assessments of wrist function based on the modified Mayo wrist score, the disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand (DASH) score, as well as the Chun and Palmer score were evaluated.
RESULTS
A cystic lesion of the lunate was present in 4 cases preoperatively and the size decreased in 2 cases at final follow-up in group I, and in 10 and 5 cases, respectively, in group II. No statistical difference was observed between the groups. The modified Mayo wrist score, DASH score, as well as the Chun and Palmer score improved significantly in both groups. No significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of the proportion of positive cystic lesions at final follow-up or the functional scores.
CONCLUSIONS
After ulnar shortening, the degree of radiological change in the cystic lunate lesions and clinical improvement did not differ significantly between the groups with unintended residual positive and negative variance after shortening.

Keyword

Wrist; Residual ulnar variance; Ulnar impaction syndrome; Ulnar shortening

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Bone Cysts/surgery
Bone Diseases/*radiography/*surgery
Female
Health Status Indicators
Humans
Lunate Bone/surgery
Male
Middle Aged
Osteotomy/*methods
Retrospective Studies
Statistics, Nonparametric
Ulna/*radiography/*surgery

Figure

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  Fig. 1 The ulnar variance was measured by drawing a line through the volar sclerotic line of the distal radius perpendicular to its longitudinal axis. The variance is the distance between this line and the distal cortical rim of the ulnar dome.

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