Abnormal length of ulna relative to distal radius → adjacent soft tissue and osseous abnormalities
Related to abnormal load-bearing through ulna
Measurement of ulnar length
Ulna neutral: ulna 0-2 mm shorter than radius
Ulna negative: ulna > 2 mm shorter than radius
Ulna positive: ulna longer than radius
IMAGING
General Features
Imaging Recommendations
Radiographic Findings
MR Findings
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
PATHOLOGY
General Features
Staging, Grading, & Classification
Microscopic Features
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
Demographics
Natural History & Prognosis
Treatment
Selected References
Kox LS et al: Well-founded practice or personal preference: a comparison of established techniques for measuring ulnar variance in healthy children and adolescents. Eur Radiol. 30(1):151-62, 2020
Chang CY et al: Association between distal ulnar morphology and extensor carpi ulnaris tendon pathology. Skeletal Radiol. 43(6):793-800, 2014
Katayama T et al: Distribution of primary osteoarthritis in the ulnar aspect of the wrist and the factors that are correlated with ulnar wrist osteoarthritis: a cross-sectional study. Skeletal Radiol. 42(9):1253-8, 2013
Unglaub F et al: Cartilage cell proliferation in degenerative TFCC wrist lesions. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 130(8):953-6, 2010
Takahara M et al: Long-term follow-up of radial shortening osteotomy for Kienbock disease. Surgical technique. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 91 Suppl 2:184-90, 2009
Bickel KD: Arthroscopic treatment of ulnar impaction syndrome. J Hand Surg Am. 33(8):1420-3, 2008
Reiter A et al: Arthroscopic repair of Palmer 1B triangular fibrocartilage complex tears. Arthroscopy. 24(11):1244-50, 2008
Unglaub F et al: Correlation of ulnar length and apoptotic cell death in degenerative lesions of the triangular fibrocartilage. Arthroscopy. 24(3):299-304, 2008
Saffar P: The pathology of the long ulna: anatomy and treatment. J Hand Surg Eur Vol. 32(6):608-19, 2007
DiFiori JP et al: Wrist pain, distal radial physeal injury, and ulnar variance in the young gymnast. Am J Sports Med. 34(5):840-9, 2006
Markolf KL et al: Effects of wafer resection and hemiresection from the distal ulna on load-sharing at the wrist: a cadaveric study. J Hand Surg Am. 30(2):351-8, 2005
Tomaino MM et al: Ulnar impaction syndrome. Hand Clin. 21(4):567-75, 2005
Zenzai K et al: Long-term outcome of radial shortening with or without ulnar shortening for treatment of Kienbock's disease: a 13-25 year follow-up. J Hand Surg Br. 30(2):226-8, 2005
Related Anatomy
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Related Differential Diagnoses
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References
Tables
Tables
KEY FACTS
Terminology
Imaging
TERMINOLOGY
Definitions
Abnormal length of ulna relative to distal radius → adjacent soft tissue and osseous abnormalities
Related to abnormal load-bearing through ulna
Measurement of ulnar length
Ulna neutral: ulna 0-2 mm shorter than radius
Ulna negative: ulna > 2 mm shorter than radius
Ulna positive: ulna longer than radius
IMAGING
General Features
Imaging Recommendations
Radiographic Findings
MR Findings
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
PATHOLOGY
General Features
Staging, Grading, & Classification
Microscopic Features
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
Demographics
Natural History & Prognosis
Treatment
Selected References
Kox LS et al: Well-founded practice or personal preference: a comparison of established techniques for measuring ulnar variance in healthy children and adolescents. Eur Radiol. 30(1):151-62, 2020
Chang CY et al: Association between distal ulnar morphology and extensor carpi ulnaris tendon pathology. Skeletal Radiol. 43(6):793-800, 2014
Katayama T et al: Distribution of primary osteoarthritis in the ulnar aspect of the wrist and the factors that are correlated with ulnar wrist osteoarthritis: a cross-sectional study. Skeletal Radiol. 42(9):1253-8, 2013
Unglaub F et al: Cartilage cell proliferation in degenerative TFCC wrist lesions. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 130(8):953-6, 2010
Takahara M et al: Long-term follow-up of radial shortening osteotomy for Kienbock disease. Surgical technique. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 91 Suppl 2:184-90, 2009
Bickel KD: Arthroscopic treatment of ulnar impaction syndrome. J Hand Surg Am. 33(8):1420-3, 2008
Reiter A et al: Arthroscopic repair of Palmer 1B triangular fibrocartilage complex tears. Arthroscopy. 24(11):1244-50, 2008
Unglaub F et al: Correlation of ulnar length and apoptotic cell death in degenerative lesions of the triangular fibrocartilage. Arthroscopy. 24(3):299-304, 2008
Saffar P: The pathology of the long ulna: anatomy and treatment. J Hand Surg Eur Vol. 32(6):608-19, 2007
DiFiori JP et al: Wrist pain, distal radial physeal injury, and ulnar variance in the young gymnast. Am J Sports Med. 34(5):840-9, 2006
Markolf KL et al: Effects of wafer resection and hemiresection from the distal ulna on load-sharing at the wrist: a cadaveric study. J Hand Surg Am. 30(2):351-8, 2005
Tomaino MM et al: Ulnar impaction syndrome. Hand Clin. 21(4):567-75, 2005
Zenzai K et al: Long-term outcome of radial shortening with or without ulnar shortening for treatment of Kienbock's disease: a 13-25 year follow-up. J Hand Surg Br. 30(2):226-8, 2005
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