Radiographic Study of the Correction of Radial Length in Wrist Fracture: The Ulnar Variance Compared With the Controlateral Side in 95 Cases Treated With Intra Focal Pinning

Hassan Najdi¹*, Dany Mouarbes², Fady Jammoul², Ali Ibrahim², Ali Chamseddine³, Roger Jawish⁴

Received: February 05, 2018;   Published: February 16, 2018

DOI: 10.26717/BJSTR.2018.02.000768

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Abstract

Introduction: Values of different parameters for correction of distal radius fracture is well defined, except for ulnar variance (UV) which demonstrates variant morphologic values between individuals.

Purpose: Correction of radial length in wrist’s fracture is more reliable if we consider the UV aspect of the contra-lateral side as reference.

Materials and methods: Prospective study on all patients presented between 2013 and 2016 with extra-articular (Kapandji type1 and 2) and simple intra-articular fractures (Kapandji type4) of wrist and treated by Kapandji technique where contra-lateral UV was used as reference for correction of radial length. Radiographic evaluation of results done 6 months post-operatively.

Results: 95 patients, 61 females, 34 males with mean age 59. In fractured side, the UV was: Neutral (63), Positive (19) and Negative (13). From 65 initial neutral UV, 58 restored the neutral aspect (89%), 4 became positive (6%) and 3 became negative (5%). From 18 initial positive UV, 15 restored the positive aspect (83%), 3 became neutral (17%). From 12 negative UV, 10 restored the initial negative aspect (83%), 2 became neutral (17%). The contra-lateral UV was: Neutral (65), Positive (18) and Negative (12). Considering the neutral aspect as standard reference for reduction, 63/95 obtained good reduction. Comparing corrected UV to contra-lateral side, 83/95 cases restored the initial aspect and 6 cases were over lengthened.

Conclusion: Considering the contra-lateral UV as reference for correction, the normalization rate of UV is 87.3% instead of 66.3% when neutral aspect of UV is considered as standard anatomy.

Keywords: Wrist Fracture; Intra Focal Pinning; Ulnar Variance; Radial Length.

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