Factors Affecting the Occurrence of Distal Radioulnar Joint Arthritis after Ulnar Shortening Osteotomy

Kim,  Chol Jin; Gil,  Ho Jin; Chung,  Yang Guk; Shin,  Seung Han; Kim,  Dong Hyun; Park,  Jun Soo; Choi,  Hyun Chul

doi:2014.19.2.57

Arch Hand Microsurg > Volume 19(2); 2014 > Article

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Society for Surgery of the Hand 2014;19(2):57-64.
Published online June 30, 2014.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12790/jkssh.2014.19.2.57

Factors Affecting the Occurrence of Distal Radioulnar Joint Arthritis after Ulnar Shortening Osteotomy

Chol Jin Kim, Ho Jin Gil, Yang Guk Chung, Seung Han Shin, Dong Hyun Kim, Jun Soo Park, Hyun Chul Choi

¹Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The Armed Forces Dae Jeon Hospital, Daejeon, Korea.
²Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. ygchung@catholic.ac.kr

Received: 13 June 2014 • Revised: 15 June 2014 • Accepted: 16 June 2014

Abstract

Purpose
Ulnar shortening osteotmy is a common operation for the treatment of ulnar impaction syndrome. The purpose of this study was to evaluate factors that may affect the occurrence of distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) arthritis after ulnar shortening osteotomy.

Methods
From September 2005 to August 2012, we performed 81 ulnar shortening osteotomies for ulnar impaction syndrome, and evaluated occurrence or deterioration of DRUJ arthritis in 58 patients with a minimum follow-up of 1 year. We analyzed potential factors that may affect the occurrence of DRUJ arthritis, such as, age, sex, hand dominance, pre- and postoperative ulnar variance, preexisting DRUJ arthritis, types of radial sigmoid notch, amount of ulnar shortening, and follow up period.

Results
DRUJ arthritis occurred or deteriorated in 32 out of the 58 patients. Regression analysis indicated a significant correlation between the type of radial sigmoid notch (type 1) and DRUJ arthritis. Other factors were not found to be correlated with occurrence or deterioration of DRUJ arthritis.

Conclusion
This study suggests that patients with type 1 radial sigmoid notch (ulnar inclination of more than 10 degrees) are more likely to develop DRUJ arthritis after ulnar shortening osteotomy.