title: [Radiological study of the height of the cubitus in relation to the radius. Measures of 2 comparative series].
abstract: It has been postulated that cubitus altus promotes Kienböck's disease. The inconstant value of the radioulnar index must be underlined. Our index is measured on sagittal X-rays. This study showed that the angle formed between the horizontal line which passes through the junction of the lower and ulnar borders of the radius and the line drawn from this same ulnar pole of the radius to the lower ulnar styloid (Fischer's angle) on posteroanterior projections was not reliable. In an initial study of 41 men and 36 women, the following mean values were found : 1.06 for men ; 0.65 for women. The minus sign indicates that the ulna was shorter than the radius. A second study showed that there was in fact very little difference between men (-2.08 mm) and women (-1.91 mm). Based on the study of 150 normal wrists, it seems possible to state that the physiological radioulnar index ranges from 0.5 mm to 2 mm on sagittal X-rays. The ulna was always shorter thant the radius, was slightly shorter in men than in women. We suggest that values of greater than 2.5 mm are necessary to define cubitus altus.
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D011884:Radius / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014457:Ulna / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
vernacular_title: Etude radiologique de la hauteur du cubitus par rapport au radius. Mesures de deux séries comparatives.