Study of ulnar variance with high-resolution MRI: correlation with triangular fibrocartilage complex and cartilage of ulnar side of wrist.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate correlations with ulnar variance and the triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) or cartilage of ulnar side of the wrist on high-resolution MRI with a microscopy coil.


METHODS
We reviewed ulnar variance, TFCC, and cartilage of the ulnar side of the wrist in 93 subjects (29 asymptomatic volunteers and 64 patients with suspected TFCC injury) with high-resolution MRI using a 47-mm microscopy surface coil. All MR images were obtained with a 1.5 T scanner. Coronal 2D gradient recalled echo T(2)*-weighted images were used for analysis. For qualitative analysis we measured ulnar variance, TFCC angle, thickness in the central portion of TFCC disc proper, and cartilage thickness of the lunate and the ulnar head on MRI and calculated the correlation coefficient between measured values. We also examined the relationship between ulnar variance and age or sex.


RESULTS
High-resolution MR images clearly demonstrated TFCC and cartilage of the wrist and ulnar variance. The mean ulnar variance on MRI was +0.26 mm (range, -4.59 to +3.71 mm). The mean TFCC angle and TFCC thickness were 23.9 degrees (range, -4.6 to +54.1 degrees ) and 1.11 mm (range, 0.4 to 3.22 mm), respectively. Ulnar variance and TFCC angle were positively correlated (r = 0.84), and ulnar variance and TFCC thickness were negatively correlated (r = -0.71). However, ulnar variance and lunate or ulnar head cartilage thickness were not significantly correlated.


CONCLUSIONS
High-resolution MRI with a microscopy coil is a useful tool for evaluating the relationship between ulnar variance and ulnar side structures.
Yoshioka
Hiroshi
H
Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. myoshioka@partners.org
Tanaka
Toshikazu
T
Ueno
Teruko
T
Carrino
John A
JA
Winalski
Carl S
CS
Aliabadi
Piran
P
Lang
Philipp
P
Weissman
Barbara N
BN
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008853:Microscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D051478:Triangular Fibrocartilage / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000473:pathology*; D014457:Ulna / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000473:pathology*; D014953:Wrist / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000473:pathology*; D014955:Wrist Joint / Q000473:pathology