Ulna-Shortening Osteotomy: Outcome and Repercussion of the Distal Radioulnar Joint Osteoarthritis

A modified partial wedge-shaped metaphyseal ulnar osteotomy for the treatment of ulnar impaction syndrome with reverse oblique sigmoid notch

We describe a modified metaphyseal ulnar osteotomy to treat ulnar impaction syndrome with a reverse oblique sigmoid notch. Based on a computational analysis of radiographs, a modified wedge metaphyseal ulnar osteotomy was devised with its apex positioned at the ulnar styloid base to avoid impaction between the sigmoid notch and ulnar head. Subsequently, nine patients with ulnar impaction syndrome and a reverse oblique sigmoid notch underwent this operation, combined with arthroscopic exploration and transosseous triangular fibrocartilage complex repair. The mean follow-up was 14 months. All patients achieved bone union within 5 weeks, with no degenerative changes being observed during the follow-up assessments. The final follow-up assessments revealed decreases in ulnar variance and in the scores for Visual Analogue Scale, Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire and the Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation. All patients achieved excellent or good grades on the Modified Mayo Wrist Score. This technique is effective in treating the ulnar impaction syndrome with a reverse oblique sigmoid notch.Level of evidence: IV.

Is metaphyseal ulnar shortening osteotomy superior to diaphyseal ulnar shortening osteotomy in the treatment of ulnar impaction syndrome? A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Although metaphyseal ulnar shortening osteotomy (MUSO) is safer for the treatment of ulnar impaction syndrome (UIS) than diaphyseal ulnar shortening osteotomy (DUSO), DUSO is widely used for UIS treatment.

AIM

To evaluate the effectiveness of DUSO and MUSO for UIS treatment and determine the factors that should be considered when choosing surgical treatment for UIS.

METHODS

Articles comparing the effectiveness of DUSO and MUSO for UIS treatment were systematically retrieved from MEDLINE (Ovid), PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library. The demography, incidence of complications, secondary operation rate, postoperative DASH score, wrist pain on the visual analogue scale, and grip strength improvement were also evaluated. In addition, the correlation between the improvement of grip strength and the shortening of osteotomy length of ulna was analyzed. The outcome of the patient was discontinuous, and the odds ratio, risk ratio (RR), and 95%CI were calculated and analyzed via RevMan5.3 software.

RESULTS

Six studies, including 83 patients receiving MUSO (experimental group) and 112 patients receiving DUSO (control group), were included in the meta-analysis. The second operation rate was significantly higher after DUSO than after MUSO. The DASH scores were slightly lower in the MUSO group than in the DUSO group. The patients receiving MUSO had slightly better pain relief effect than patients receiving DUSO. However, the incidence of complications and improvement of grip strength were not significantly different between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

Although DUSO and MUSO provide similar effects for UIS, MUSO is associated with a lower secondary operation rate, slightly lower postoperative DASH scores and slightly better pain relief effect than DUSO, indicating that MUSO can effectively be used for UIS treatment.

[Ulnar Shortening Osteotomy - Two Weeks of Immobilization Sufficient]

BACKGROUND

Diaphyseal ulnar shortening osteotomy (USO) as surgical treatment of ulnar impaction syndrome is standardized nowadays with good to very good results. In contrast, a wide spectrum of different postoperative treatment regimens can be found in the current literature. The results after USO with modern, angular stable implants with immobilization for 2 weeks are presented.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A retrospective database analysis identified 49 patients (31 women, 18 men, mean age 37.6 years) with a total of 51 USO over a 13-year period and were followed up for 73.5 (15.9-192.9). All USO were obliquely sawed and stabilized with palmar locking implants. The wrist was immobilized postoperatively in 30° extension in a dorsal forearm splint for 2 weeks.

RESULTS

All USO showed load-stable consolidation signs after an average of 7.0 (SD 1.9; 4.9-14.1) weeks. Wrist range of motion was significantly improved in extension/flexion from 107.6° (60-155) preoperatively to 123.7° (80-160) postoperatively and in ulnar/radial deviation from 55.1° (25-90) to 60.8° (30-90) (p<0.05). Pain level was significantly reduced from 3.2 (0-8) to 0.1 (0-2) at rest and from 7.3 (4-10) to 1.2 (0-9) under weight bearing (p<0.01). A total of 5 complications (9.8%) were noted. Nonunion was not found.

CONCLUSION

By using angular stable implants to stabilize a USO, the duration of immobilization can be reduced to 2 weeks without compromising bone healing.

Long-term outcomes after ulna shortening osteotomy: a mean follow-up of six years

Aims

The primary aim of this study was to describe long-term patient-reported outcomes after ulna shortening osteotomy for ulna impaction syndrome.

Methods

Overall, 89 patients treated between July 2011 and November 2017 who had previously taken part in a routine outcome evaluation up to 12 months postoperatively were sent an additional questionnaire in February 2021. The primary outcome was the Patient-Rated Wrist and Hand Evaluation (PRWHE) total score. Secondary outcomes included patient satisfaction with treatment results, complications, and subsequent treatment for ulnar-sided wrist pain. Linear mixed models were used to compare preoperative, 12 months, and late follow-up (ranging from four to nine years) PRWHE scores.

Results

Long-term outcomes were available in 66 patients (74%) after a mean follow-up of six years (SD 1). The mean PRWHE total score improved from 63 before surgery to 19 at late follow-up (difference in means (Δ) 44; 95% confidence interval (CI) 39 to 50; p = <0.001). Between 12 months and late follow-up, the PRWHE total score also improved (Δ 12; 95% CI 6 to 18; p = < 0.001). At late follow-up, 14/66 of patients (21%) reported a PRWHE total score of zero, whereas this was 3/51 patients (6%) at 12 months (p = 0.039). In all, 58/66 patients (88%) would undergo the same treatment again under similar circumstances. Subsequent treatment (total n = 66; surgical n = 57) for complications or recurrent symptoms were performed in 50/66 patients (76%). The most prevalent type of reoperation was hardware removal in 42/66 (64%), and nonunion occurred in 8/66 (12%).

Conclusion

Ulna shortening osteotomy improves patient-reported pain and function that seems to sustain at late follow-up. While satisfaction levels are generally high, reoperations such as hardware removal are common.

Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2022;3(5):375–382.

Outcomes of ulna shortening osteotomy: a cohort analysis of 106 patients

Background

Ulna shortening osteotomy (USO) for ulnar impaction syndrome (UIS) aims to improve pain and function by unloading the ulnar carpus. Previous studies often lack validated patient-reported outcomes or have small sample sizes. The primary objective of this study was to investigate patient-reported pain and hand function at 12 months after USO for UIS. Secondary objectives were to investigate the active range of motion, grip strength, complications, and whether outcomes differed based on etiology.

Materials and methods

We report on 106 patients with UIS who received USO between 2012 and 2019. In 44 of these patients, USO was performed secondary to distal radius fracture. Pain and function were measured with the Patient Rated Wrist/Hand Evaluation (PRWHE) before surgery and at 3 and 12 months after surgery. Active range of motion and grip strength were measured before surgery and at 3 and 12 months after surgery. Complications were scored using the International Consortium for Health Outcome Measurement Complications in Hand and Wrist conditions (ICHAW) tool.

Results

The PRWHE total score improved from a mean of 64 (SD = 18) before surgery to 40 (22) at 3 months and 32 (23) at 12 months after surgery (P  < 0.001; effect size Cohen’s d = −1.4). There was no difference in the improvement in PRWHE total score (P = 0.99) based on etiology. Also, no clinically relevant changes in the active range of motion were measured. Independent of etiology, mean grip strength improved from 24 (11) before surgery to 30 (12) at 12 months (P  = 0.001). Sixty-four percent of patients experienced at least one complication, ranging from minor to severe. Of the 80 complications in total, 50 patients (47%) had complaints of hardware irritation, of which 34 (32%) had their hardware removed. Six patients (6%) needed refixation because of nonunion.

Conclusion

We found beneficial outcomes in patients with UIS that underwent USO, although there was a large variance in the outcome and a relatively high number of complications (which includes plate removals). Results of this study may be used in preoperative counseling and shared decision-making when considering USO.

Level of evidence

Therapeutic III.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s10195-021-00621-8.

Distal radioulnar joint configurations in three-dimensional computed tomography in patients with idiopathic ulnar impaction syndrome

We retrospectively reviewed 26 patients diagnosed with idiopathic ulnar impaction syndrome and measured the slopes of the sigmoid notch and ulnar head at their centre using their preoperative three-dimensional computed tomography. We found that the slope of the sigmoid notch and that of the ulnar head were not parallel to each other. There was a significant linear relation between the slope of the ulnar head and the changes in the closest joint space of the distal radioulnar joint at the centre of the sigmoid notch after ulnar shortening. We conclude that the slope of the ulnar head is more strongly correlated with changes in the closest joint space in the distal radioulnar joint than that of the sigmoid notch. Our findings suggest that slope of the ulnar head might be as important a predisposing factor as that of the sigmoid notch for the progression of distal radioulnar joint arthritis after ulnar-shortening osteotomy. We should consider the slopes of both the sigmoid notch and ulnar head before the osteotomy. Level of evidence: IV.

Does Distal Radio-ulnar Joint Configuration Affect Postoperative Functional Results after Ulnar Shortening Osteotomy?

Background

Reverse oblique distal radio-ulnar joint (DRUJ) configuration is assumed to show inferior postoperative results in ulnar-shortening osteotomy due to osteoarthritis, as the joint force pressure in the DRUJ may be increased. An evaluation and comparison of the postoperative functional results with regard to clinical and radiographic signs of arthritis among different DRUJ configurations was carried out retrospectively.

Methods

Sixty-two patients after ulnar shortening osteotomy were included. The minimum follow-up was 5 years. Preoperative x-rays were assessed for the DRUJ configuration according to the Tolat classification, whereas postoperative radiographs were evaluated with regard to signs of osteoarthritis using the Kallgren-Lawrence-Score. Functional results were evaluated using the disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) and Mayo Wrist Score and measuring range of motion and grip strength.

Results

Significantly better functional results were found in patients with parallel configuration of the DRUJ (Tolat type 1 configuration) with regard to DASH score, grip strength, and supination compared with nonparallel configurations. In the Tolat type 1, configurated DRUJ mean DASH score was 9 compared with 18 in the Tolat type 2 and 3 groups. Apart from supination, no differences were observed in range of motion among groups.

Conclusion

Although long-term postoperative range of motion failed to display statistically significant differences between DRUJ configurations except for supination, better results regarding grip strength and DASH scores were seen in a parallel-aligned DRUJ configuration. Although onset of osteoarthritis does not seem to become apparent within the observation period, nonparallel aligned configuration predisposes to inferior results.

Radiological degenerative changes in the distal radioulnar joint after ulnar shortening osteotomy in patients with idiopathic ulnar impaction syndrome: Analysis of factors affecting degenerative lesions

PURPOSE

To identify factors influencing overall radiologic changes in the distal radioulnar joint after ulnar shortening osteotomy (USO) in patients with idiopathic ulnar impaction syndrome.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 310 patients who had undergone USO between May 2007 and December 2013 were included in this retrospective case-control study. The patients were classified into two groups (with or without radiologic findings of new arthritic changes), after which the following factors were analyzed: 1) demographic factors; 2) radiologic aspects, including ulnar variance (UV), morphological DRUJ type (classified according to Tolat et al.), and union period after USO; and 3) operative aspects, including the triangular fibrocartilage complex degeneration type, use of a parallel double-blade saw, type of plate used for fixation, and plate position on the volar or dorsal ulnar surface.

RESULTS

Group 1 (no arthritic changes) consisted of 243 patients, whereas Group 2 (arthritic changes) consisted of 67 patients. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that the presence of lunate cystic changes, amount of shortening, and the union period were significantly associated with newly developed arthritic changes in the distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) after USO. The morphological DRUJ type was not a significant factor. Arthritic changes were significantly more prevalent in patients with a shortening amount >4.5 mm and a union period <3.25 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Radiologic arthritic changes after USO, were associated with the presence of cystic changes in the lunate, a shortening amount (>4.5 mm), and early bony union (<3.25 months).

TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic level III.