Ulnar-sided wrist pain. Part I: anatomy and physical examination

Ulnar-sided wrist pain is a common complaint, and it presents a diagnostic challenge for hand surgeons and radiologists. The complex anatomy of this region, combined with the small size of structures and subtle imaging findings, compound this problem. A thorough understanding of ulnar-sided wrist anatomy and a systematic clinical examination of this region are essential in arriving at an accurate diagnosis. In part I of this review, ulnar-sided wrist anatomy and clinical examination are discussed for a more comprehensive understanding of ulnar-sided wrist pain

Kienbock disease and negative ulnar variance

We compared the degree of ulnar variance, measured on standardized radiographs of the wrist, in forty-four patients who had Kienböck disease with that in ninety-nine control subjects who had been selected from a general clinic population and had radiographs of the wrist. The purpose of our study was to determine if there is a true relationship between negative ulnar variance and the development of Kienböck disease. Gender was not found to influence the degree of ulnar variance, but an association was found between age and negative ulnar variance in both the control subjects and the patients who had Kienböck disease. The findings of the present study confirmed an association between negative ulnar variance and the development of Kienböck disease even after correction for the influence of age on the measurement of ulnar variance.Mariusz Bonzar, John C. Firrell, Meg Hainer, Edward T. Mah, Steven J. McCab