Operative Treatment for Isolated Distal Ulnar Shaft Fracture

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.

Surgical Treatment of Isolated Distal Ulnar Fracture without Radial Fracture / 대한정형외과학회잡지

Distal radioulnar is a part which has a rotational movement through the function of distal radioulnar joint and extensor carpi ulnaris. The injury mechanism in this area is usually a trauma largely due to traffic accidents. In general these injuries to the distal radioulnar joint are treated by a closed reduction. However, the isolated distal ulnar fracture without radial fracture, which is often called the night stick fracture, is difficult to treat by a closed reduction and a cast immobilization alone, especially if there is a displacement or fracture segment impinging soft tissue or severe comminution. Nonunion has been the frequent outcome with this method of treatment and limitation of rotation of forearm and distal radioulnar joint have occurred due to long period of immobilization or malunion. Thus, a different treatment modality such as open reduction and internal fixation and early active joint motion has arisen as a better treatment modality. In this study, 8 cases of isolated distal ulnar fracture without radial fracture have recieved the operation and the early active joint movement, if a displacement was present either at the time of injury or after the initial closed reduction. As a result, this method has enabled the patients to reduce the rate of complication of nonunion and to recover limitation of joint motion in a shorter time period.