title: Operative treatment for isolated distal ulnar shaft fracture.
abstract: This study retrospectively evaluated the effectiveness of an open reduction and internal fixation of a tension band wiring technique for treating displaced or unstable comminuted distal ulnar shaft fractures without a radial fracture. Ten patients were treated for an isolated distal ulnar shaft fracture. There were 6 cases of a fracture 2.5 cm below the lower end of the ulna, and 4 cases with the fracture being 2.5 cm to 5 cm away from the lower end of the ulna. The authors classified the fractures of the distal ulnar into 3 types: a type I-simple fracture, a type II-comminuted fracture without a distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) involvement, and a type III- comminuted fracture with DRUJ involvement. There were 3 cases of a type I fracture, 4 of type II and 3 of type III. The open reduction and internal fixation using tension band wiring were performed in 10 of these cases. After the operation, the wrist was placed in a cast for six weeks before active movement was allowed. The clinical results were excellent in 7 cases, good in 2 and poor in 1. In conclusion, tension band wiring surgery is recommended for treating an isolated distal ulnar with unreduced displaced fractures, in a comminuted fracture that cannot be maintained by a closed reduction and when there is the potential encroachment of fracture fragments in the DRUJ.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Youngdong Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, P.O. Box 1217, Seoul 135-720, Korea. kangho56@yumc.yonsei.ac.kr
authors.forename: Ho-Jung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Dong-Joon
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.forename: Seok-Won
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Yong
authors.forename: Gyu-Hyun
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Soo-Bong
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Hahn
authors.forename: Eung-Shick
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods*; D018460:Fractures, Comminuted / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014458:Ulna Fractures / Q000601:surgery*