In total, 156 patients met the inclusion criteria and were sent an invitational letter for a study visit. Thirty-four patients were lost to follow-up and 73 were unwilling to participate. The resulting 49 participants provided written informed consent before examination. No differences were found in age, gender or fracture classification comparing participants with no participants (data not shown).
The study group consisted of 10 men and 39 women, both distributed without a significant difference over the DRUJ stable and unstable group Mean age was 60.8 years (SD 16.2). Mean follow-up after trauma was 4.2 years (SD 0.5). Seventeen of the 49 patients tested positive for DRUJ instability. The groups with and without DRUJ instability were similar with respect to age, gender, dominant hand injured, fracture characteristics and degree of radiocarpal arthritis. No arthritic changes of the DRUJ were found. In the DRU stable patients 13 patients had an accompanying ulnar styloid process (PSU) of which 7 united. In the DRU unstable patients 11 patients had an accompanying ulnar styloid process (PSU) of which 4 united. No significant differences were found in PSU-union between groups (Table
1).
Table 1
Baseline characteristics of patients with static distal radioulnar joint instability compared to patients with a stable distal radioulnar joint
Age (years) [SD] | 61.5 [14.6] | 59.5 [19.3] | .686 |
Follow-up (years) [SD] | 4.2 [0.5] | 4.1 [0.5] | .767 |
Gender | | | .07 |
Male | 9 | 1 | |
Female | 23 | 16 | |
AO classification (n) | | | .448 |
A | 13 | 10 | |
B | 4 | 1 | |
C | 15 | 6 | |
Dominant hand injured (n) | | | .426 |
Yes | 15 | 10 | |
No | 17 | 7 | |
PSU-union (n) | | | .185 |
Yes | 7 | 4 | |
No | 6 | 7 | |
No PSU fracture | 19 | 6 | |
Radio carpal arthritis (n) | | | .138 |
0 | 1 | 3 | |
1 | 14 | 7 | |
2 | 13 | 3 | |
3 | 4 | 4 | |
Range of motion and strength
In patients with an unstable DRUJ flexion and extension averaged 81° (range 58°–102°) and 89° (range 58°–110°), respectively. Radial deviation averaged 25° (range 5°–40°) and ulnar deviation averaged 40° (range 25°–58°). The average pronation and supination measured 84° (range 60°–100°) and 89° (range 75°–110°), respectively. In patients with a stable DRUJ of the injured wrist flexion averaged 68° (range 35°–92°) and extension 85° (range 55°–105°). Radial deviation averaged 24° (range 6°–40°) and ulnar deviation averaged 40° (range 21°–65°). The average pronation and supination measured 87° (range 68°–109°) and 92° (range 60°–118°), respectively. Function expressed as percentage of the uninjured arm is shown in Table
2. Flexion was found to be statistical significantly better in the DRUJ unstable group. Further results did not differ between patients with and without DRUJ instability.
Table 2
Functional outcome parameters of patients with stable or unstable distal radioulnar joint
Flexion in degrees, mean (range) | 68 (35–92) | 81 (58–102) | |
% of non-injured wrist | 0.93 (0.13) | 1.01 (0.15) | .04 |
Extension in degrees, mean (range) | 85 (55–105) | 89 (58–110) | |
% of non-injured wrist | 1.0 (0.11) | 1.00 (0.10) | .88 |
Pronation in degrees, mean (range) | 87 (68–109) | 84 (60–100) | |
% of non-injured wrist | 0.98 (0.09) | 0.98 (0.09) | .95 |
Supination in degrees, mean (range) | 92 (60–118) | 89 (75–110) | |
% of non-injured wrist | 1.02 (0.15) | 0.98 (0.14) | .28 |
Radial deviation in degrees, mean (range) | 24 (6–40) | 25 (5–40) | |
% of non-injured wrist | 1.1 (0.36) | 1.10 (0.40) | .89 |
Ulnar deviation in degrees, mean (range) | 40 (21–65) | 40 (25–58) | |
% of non-injured wrist | 1.0 (0.61) | 0.97 (0.20) | .68 |
Grip strength, % of non-injured wrist | 0.93 (0.13) | 0.98 (0.12) | .25 |
Pinch strength, % of non-injured wrist | 0.95 (0.22) | 1.01 (0.22) | .34 |
DASH | 7.9 (16.3) | 10.05 (9.72) | .63 |
MMWS | 87.03 (12.9) | 87.06 (10.47) | .99 |
Gartland and Werly | 4.2 (3.66) | 4.9 (3.47) | .49 |
Pain injured wrist in rest | 4.7 (16.7) | 5.3 (15.05) | .90 |
Pain injured wrist, carrying 10 kg, with elbow extended | 9.3 (18.7) | 11.8 (23.78) | .69 |
Pain injured wrist, carrying 10 kg, with elbow flexed | 7.7 (19.6) | 10.6 (20.5) | .63 |
Pain injured wrist during pronosupination without load | 3 (11.4) | 0 (0) | .29 |
Pain injured wrist during pronosupination with 10 kg loadbearing | 8.9 (21.1) | 11.2 (22.05) | .72 |
In patients with an unstable DRUJ the grip and pinch strength averaged 98 % (range 59–115 %) and 101 % (range 51–133 %), respectively, indexing the uninjured for the injured wrist. In patients with a stable DRUJ, the grip and pinch strength averaged 93 % (range 63–132 %) and 95 % (range 50–161 %), respectively, indexing the uninjured for the injured wrist. No differences in strength were found between the groups (Table
2).
Patient reported outcome
Ten of the DRUJ unstable patients revealed only static DRUJ instability, of which two suffered from wrist pain in rest and seven patients showed both static and dynamic instability, of which one suffered from wrist pain in rest. Two patients suffered from pain prior to the trauma, in the injured wrist.
In the DRUJ unstable group, three patients indicated pain in the injured wrist in rest with a mean of 5.3 (range 0–50). The mean outcome for pain, with 10 kg loadbearing with the elbow extended, with 10 kg loadbearing with the elbow 90° flexed, during pronosupination without loadbearing and during pronosupination with 10 kg of loadbearing on the VAS was 11.8 (range 0–70), 10.6 (range 0–60), 0.0 (range 0–0) and 11.2 (range 0–70), respectively. Mean DASH score was 10 (range 0–28). One patient did not fulfill the DASH. The MMWS was excellent or good in 16 and poor in one patient. The Gartland and Werley ratings were excellent in 5 patients, good outcome in 9 patients and fair in 3 patients.
In the DRUJ stable group, three patients indicated pain in the injured wrist in rest with a mean of 4.7 (range 0–80). Average outcome for pain with 10 kg loadbearing with the elbow extended, with 10 kg loadbearing with the elbow 90° flexed, during pronosupination without loadbearing and during pronosupination with 10 kg of loadbearing on the VAS was 9.3 (range 0–60), 7.7 (range 0–90), 3.0 (range 0–60) and 8.9 (range 0–80), respectively. Mean DASH score was 7.9 (range 0–68). The MMWS ratings were excellent or good in 25 patients, satisfactory in 5 and poor in 2 patients. The Gartland and Werley ratings were excellent and good outcome in 25 patients and satisfactory or poor in 7 patients.
There were no significant differences between DRUJ stable and instable groups in terms patient reported outcomes (Table
2). Comparing patients with static or dynamic DRUJ instability separately to stable DRUJ patients, no statistical significant differences were found (data not shown).