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To describe a surgical approach for open repair of the triangular fibrocartilage complex foveal avulsion via ulnar styloid osteotomy, and to assess its clinical results. We reviewed 12 patients with distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) instability due to isolated foveal avulsion of DRUJ ligaments. Wrist arthroscopy was conducted for all patients to exclude the presence of concomitant tear of the superficial part of the triangular fibrocartilage complex and to corroborate the diagnosis with a positive hook test. Through an ulnar approach between flexor and extensor carpi ulnaris, an ulnar styloid osteotomy was performed under image intensifier control just ulnar to the fovea of the head of the ulna. The avulsed foveal attachment was anchored through transosseous sutures passing from the fovea to the neck of the ulna. The ulnar styloid was fixed by means of screws or tension band wires. Outcome measures included clinical assessment of pain (visual analog scale), grip strength, DRUJ instability, range of motion of the wrist, and modified Mayo wrist score. Radiographic assessment was done to determine union of the ulnar styloid osteotomy, DRUJ subluxation, and any hardware-related problems. Outcome measures were evaluated after a mean follow-up of 21 months. Healing of the osteotomy was obtained in all cases by 11 weeks. The DRUJ laxity, visual analog scale, and modified Mayo wrist score improved, while grip strength and range of motion remained unchanged. One patient had prominent hardware necessitating removal after union of the osteotomy. There were no reported cases of injury or neuropraxia of the dorsal cutaneous branch of the ulnar nerve. Open repair of an avulsed foveal attachment of the triangular fibrocartilage complex using an ulnar styloid osteotomy is an alternative to either open or arthroscopic repair approaches. Therapeutic IV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Malunion is a complication of distal radius fractures and may be associated with a nonunion of the ulnar styloid. We tested the null hypothesis that there is no difference in outcome between patients without ulnar styloid fracture and those with the ulnar styloid nonunion after corrective radial osteotomy for distal radius malunion. Methods: A total of 19 patients with dorsally angulated distal radius malunion who had simultaneous radial closing-wedge and ulnar shortening osteotomies were included. There were 16 women and 3 men with a mean age of 63 years. All patients were followed up for a minimum of 1 year. During surgery, the accompanying ulnar styloid nonunion was not internally fixed in any patient. Eight patients had no ulnar styloid fracture, and 11 had a nonunion of the ulnar styloid. Each group of patients was evaluated on the basis of objective radiographic measurements and functional outcomes as determined on the basis of clinical examination, including wrist motion, grip strength, pain-rating score, Mayo wrist score, and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand score. Results: There were no differences in the demographic and preoperative radiographic measurements between the nonfracture and nonunion groups. Postoperative radiographic measurements and functional outcomes improved significantly compared with the preoperative status in both groups. There were no significant differences in postoperative radiographic measurements, motion, strength, pain scores, Mayo scores, or Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand scores between the 2 groups. Four of the 11 ulnar styloid nonunions were healed within 1 to 12 months after corrective radial osteotomy. Conclusions: An accompanying ulnar styloid nonunion in patients with distal radius malunion has no apparent adverse effect on outcome or function after corrective radial osteotomy. An accompanying nonunion of the ulnar styloid can heal following corrective radial osteotomy. Type of study/level of evidence: Therapeutic III. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: Little attention has been paid to injury mechanisms of foveal avulsion of the triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC). The purpose of this study was to determine whether the mechanism of injury is associated with different anatomic disruptions as well as different preoperative clinical symptoms. We also evaluated the clinical results of an open repair method for foveal avulsion according to the mechanism of injury. Methods: Fifteen patients with a traumatic foveal TFCC avulsion were treated with an open repair technique. The injury mechanism was forced wrist extension in 10 patients (group E) and forced forearm rotation in 5 patients (group R). All patients in group E and 3 in group R showed positive fovea signs. Surgical and clinical findings were compared according to the 2 types of injury mechanism. Results: Foveal insertions of TFCC were found in surgery to be disrupted in all 15 patients. In addition, disruption of the dorsal styloid insertions of the radioulnar ligament showed a significantly greater association with group R than with group E. Clinical results showed significant postoperative improvement but were marginally different between the 2 groups. Conclusions: The most common mechanism of foveal TFCC avulsions is forced wrist extension, an injury that commonly shows positive fovea signs and leaves the dorsal styloid insertion of the radioulnar ligament intact. Forced forearm rotation is the second most common injury mechanism that is more frequently associated with disruption of the dorsal styloid insertion. Type of study/level of evidence: Prognostic IV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: General awareness of the ulnar styloid impaction syndrome is low and often is neglected. Radiographic evaluation of the ulnar styloid length generally includes an x-ray of the posteroanterior view. This study analyzed the effect of different radiographic views to assess the length of the ulnar styloid. The ulnar styloid–capitate ratio (SCR) expresses the relative length of the ulnar styloid, and we compare this ratio with the ulnar styloid process index (USPI). Methods: To evaluate the ulnar styloid and to analyze the effect of different radiographic views on measurement outcome, measurements were performed in 7 different radiographic positions of both wrists of 69 patients. To assess the relative size of the ulnar styloid and its impaction potential the USPI was calculated, re-evaluated, and compared with the SCR, in which the length of the ulnar styloid is divided by the length of the capitate bone. Results: The mean ulnar styloid length in all standard posteroanterior radiographs is 4.4 ± 1.2 mm. In our population the average USPI was 0.21 ± 0.11 and the average SCR was 0.18 ± 0.05. The SCR has a stronger correlation with the length of the ulnar styloid than the USPI. Furthermore this new ratio eliminates differences related to gender, whereas the USPI does not. Conclusions: To identify ulnar impaction potential we recommend using the USPI, but to compare ulnar styloid between patients we recommend using the SCR obtained from neutral posteroanterior radiographs. For white patients we suggest defining a long ulnar styloid as having an SCR greater than 0.18 ± 0.05 and/or an overall styloid length greater than 6 mm. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Stylocarpal impaction is an uncommon cause of ulnar-sided wrist pain in which the long ulnar styloid affects the triquetrum. Previous authors have described an open excision of the ulnar styloid. We present a new technique for arthroscopic identification and subsequent excision of the ulnar styloid. The diagnosis was suspected on plain radiographs and was confirmed by dynamic fluoroscopy. Four patients with ulnar styloid impaction were successfully managed. A diagnostic arthroscopy was performed. With the arthroscope in the 4-5 portal, a 3.5-mm burr was introduced into the 6 U portal. By palpation, the burr was placed onto the tip of the ulnar styloid and confirmed with fluoroscopy. Sufficient ulnar styloid was removed to prevent impingement; this was confirmed on fluoroscopy. We undertook resection of the ulnar styloid to 3 mm (normal, 3 to 6 mm). Adjacent soft tissue structures were not violated. Arthroscopic ulnar styloid identification and excision is a relatively simple procedure. Disruption of the triangular fibrocartilage, dorsal ulnar capsular ligament, and volar ulnar carpal ligament is avoided. Fluoroscopy is valuable in providing preoperative and intraoperative identification of the ulnar styloid and impingement. Postoperatively, patients can recommence activities of daily living as comfort allows. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]