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Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery

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01-05-2020 | Distal Radius Fracture | Handsurgery

Distal radioulnar joint instability: current concepts of treatment

Authors: Christian K. Spies, Martin Langer, Lars P. Müller, Johannes Oppermann, Frank Unglaub

Published in: Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery | Issue 5/2020

Abstract

Distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) instability is often an underestimated or missed lesion which may entail fatal consequences. The triangular fibrocartilage complex is a biomechanically very important stabilizer of the DRUJ and guarantees unrestricted range of motion of the forearm. To detect DRUJ instability a systematic examination is of uppermost importance. The contralateral healthy arm will be used for comparison during clinical examination. X-rays are required to exclude osseous lesions or deformities. Computed tomography of both wrists in neutral forearm rotation, supination, and pronation may be necessary to verify DRUJ instability in ambiguous situations. Following a systematic clinical examination wrist and DRUJ arthroscopy detects lesions definitely. Tears of the distal radioulnar ligaments which entail DRUJ instability should be repaired preferably anatomically. Ulnar-sided ligament ruptures which cause instability are detected more often than radial-sided ones. Osseous ligament avulsions are mostly refixated osteosynthetically. Ligamentous tears of the distal radioulnar ligaments may be reconstructed using anchor suture or transosseous refixation. Secondary procedures such as tendon transplants are necessary for anatomical reconstruction in cases of unrepairable ligament tears.

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Title: Distal radioulnar joint instability: current concepts of treatment
Authors: Christian K. Spies
Martin Langer
Lars P. Müller
Johannes Oppermann
Frank Unglaub
Publication date: 01-05-2020
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keyword: Distal Radius Fracture
Published in: Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery / Issue 5/2020
Print ISSN: 0936-8051
Electronic ISSN: 1434-3916
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-020-03371-0

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Distal radioulnar joint instability: current concepts of treatment

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