title: The incidence of ulnocarpal complaints after distal radial fracture in relation to the fracture of the ulnar styloid.
abstract: Two hundred distal radial fractures, with a mean follow up of 20 months (range 6-49), were divided into three groups according to the presence and healing status of an ulnar styloid fracture. The patients underwent both clinical and radiological examination and completed two different questionnaires. One hundred and one, of 200 distal radial fractures, were associated with an ulnar styloid fracture. Forty-six of these developed an ulnar styloid nonunion. The authors encountered significantly higher pain scores (ulnar sided pain p = 0.012), a higher rate of DRUJ instability (p = 0.032), a greater loss of motion and grip strength (p = 0.001), and a poorer clinical outcome in cases with an ulnar styloid fracture, but no differences were apparent when those with healed ulnar styloid fractures or ulnar styloid nonunions were compared (p > 0.05). The investigators propose that the incidence of ulnocarpal complaints following distal radial fracture depends on the presence but not the healing status of an ulnar styloid fracture.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Unfallchirurgie, Medizinische Hochschule, Hannover 30173, Germany. stefan_kraemer87@web.de
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Krämer
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: O'Loughlin
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vaske
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Krettek
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gaulke
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000379:methods; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology; D018737:Hand Strength; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011859:Radiography; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014458:Ulna Fractures / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D014955:Wrist Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*