The Journal of hand surgery
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Comparative Study
Clinical impact of United versus nonunited fractures of the proximal half of the ulnar styloid following volar plate fixation of the distal radius.
Distal radius fractures are often associated with a fracture of the ulnar styloid at its base. This study tested the null hypothesis that there is no difference in outcome between patients with union and nonunion of a fracture of the proximal half of the ulnar styloid 6 months after volar plate fixation of a fracture of the distal radius. ⋯ Therapeutic III.
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Wrist distraction is a common treatment maneuver used clinically for the reduction of distal radial fractures and midcarpal dislocations. Wrist distraction is also required during wrist arthroscopy to access the radiocarpal joint and has been used as a test for scapholunate ligament injury. However, the effect of a distraction load on the normal wrist has not been well studied. The purpose of this study was to measure the three-dimensional conformational changes of the carpal bones in the normal wrist as a result of a static distractive load. ⋯ Carpal distraction has a significant (p < .01) effect on the conformation of the carpus, especially at the radiocarpal and midcarpal joints. In the normal wrist, external traction causes twice as much distraction at the lunocapitate joint than at the radiolunate joint.