• Martin Lautenbach, Michael Millrose, Nicole-Simone Schmidt, Alexander Zach, Frank Eichenauer, and Andreas Eisenschenk.
• Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2014 Jun 1;134(6):881-5.

IntroductionUlnocarpal impaction syndrome is a common cause of chronic ulnar-sided wrist pain. The distal ulnar shortening osteotomy addresses the often present positive ulnar variance and therefore relieves the excessive load on the ulnocarpal joint. In the present study, the results of a technique that uses an ulnodorsal approach with a compression device and a transverse osteotomy are presented and compared to other techniques.Materials And MethodsThis retrospective study includes 92 wrists with an ulnocarpal impaction syndrome, which were treated with an ulnar shortening osteotomy. The mean duration of postoperative follow-up was 50 months.ResultsThe mean ulnar variance was 2.17 ± 1.56 mm preoperatively and after the ulnar shortening osteotomy -1.36 ± 1.67 mm (p < 0.05). Radiological consolidation of the osteotomy could be shown in 91 wrists 6 months postoperatively. Patients rated the preoperative pain level at a VAS 7.9 ± 1.7 which decreased to a of VAS 2.4 ± 2.5 (p < 0.05). 19 patients complained of mechanical irritation. There was no neurological irritation.ConclusionIt could be shown that the distal ulnar shortening osteotomy by a transverse osteotomy using a compression device and an ulnodorsal approach has a low complication rate. It is comparable to the oblique osteotomy in effectiveness and safety.

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