Cartilage-retaining wafer resection osteotomy of the distal ulna.
Ulnar-sided wrist pain resulting from ulnar impaction is common. We describe a new cartilage-retaining wafer resection osteotomy designed to keep the cartilage intact and decompress the ulnocarpal articulation without requiring internal fixation. We retrospectively reviewed seven patients with ulnar impaction who had the procedure. The minimum followup was 14 months (mean, 30 months; range, 14-38 months). The mean change in ulnar variance was -1.29 mm. Patients showed radiographic healing by a mean of 11 weeks. Our preliminary results suggest the cartilage-retaining wafer resection osteotomy may be an effective way to unload the ulnocarpal joint without requiring internal fixation or destruction of the distal ulna cartilage.


METHODS
Level IV, therapeutic study. See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Barry
Jason A
JA
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orlando Regional Healthcare, 22 West Underwood Street, Orlando, FL 32806, USA. Jaybarry3@yahoo.com
Macksoud
Wadih S
WS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000601:surgery*; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000379:methods*; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014457:Ulna / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D017769:Ulnar Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D014955:Wrist Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*