ABSTRACT
Injury to the triangular fibrocartilage complex associated with distal radius fracture may cause symptoms of ulnar instability. Assessed by a radioulnar stress test, increased laxity of the distal radioulnar joint has in two previous studies been depicted to be associated with poorer outcome. This prospective study of 40 adults investigates the correlation of this test with functional outcome as measured by DASH. No clinically significant difference was found in relation to this test at two and five years after injury. Therefore using this test alone to decide whether or not to perform an acute repair of the TFCC cannot be recommended.
Subject(s)
Fracture Healing/physiology , Joint Instability/physiopathology , Postoperative Complications/physiopathology , Radius Fractures/physiopathology , Radius/physiopathology , Range of Motion, Articular/physiology , Triangular Fibrocartilage/injuries , Triangular Fibrocartilage/physiopathology , Ulna/physiopathology , Wrist Injuries/physiopathology , Adolescent , Adult , Bone Plates , Casts, Surgical , Cohort Studies , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Fracture Fixation, Internal , Hand Strength/physiology , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Postoperative Complications/diagnosis , Predictive Value of Tests , Prognosis , Prospective Studies , Radius Fractures/surgery , Wrist Injuries/surgery , Young AdultABSTRACT
Lesions of the triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) are commonly associated with distal radius fractures and may adversely affect the functional outcome. This prospective study evaluated computed tomography, using the radioulnar ratio (RUR), to detect laxity of the distal radioulnar joint in 48 consecutive patients with acute distal radius fractures and compared the results with a radioulnar stress test. We found the clinical stress test to be reliable in chronic cases, but the RUR method of questionable value in both acute and chronic cases.
