Abstract
The use of standard lateral roentgenography for diagnosing distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) subluxation and dislocation was investigated. Using a wrist support, bilateral standard lateral roentgenograms of the wrist were obtained in 42 patients with normal wrists and in 56 patients with a unilateral wrist injury. In normal wrists the difference between the radioulnar distance in the right and the left wrist did not exceed 4 mm when the difference in the pisoscaphoid distance was less than 3 mm. Of the 36 patients with wrist injury whose difference in pisoscaphoid distance was less than 3 mm, 15 had a radioulnar distance of 5 mm or more, and computed tomography (CT) confirmed DRUJ dislocation in 14. Concordance between lateral roentgenograms and CT was present in 33 of 36 patients (92%). These results demonstrate the value of a standardized technique for bilateral lateral roentgenography in diagnosing DRUJ subluxation and dislocation.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Dameron TB. Traumatic dislocation of the distal radio-ulnar joint. Clin Orthop 1979; 83: 55.
Heiple KG, Freehafer AA, Hof AV. Isolated traumatic dislocation of the distal end of the ulna or distal radio-ulnar joint. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 1962; 44: 1387.
Mino DE, Palmer AK, Levinsohn EM. The role of radiography and computerized tomography in the diagnosis of subluxation and dislocation of the distal radioulnar joint. J Hand Surg 1983; 8: 23.
Morrissy RT, Nalebuff EA. Dislocation of the distal radioulnar joint: anatomy and clues to prompt diagnosis. Clin Orthop 1979; 144; 154.
Epner RA, Bowers WH, Guilford WB. Ulnar variance: the effect of wrist positioning and roentgenfilming technique. J Hand Surg 1982; 7: 298.
Mino DE, Palmer AK, Levinsohn EM. Radiography and computerized tomography in the diagnosis of incongruity of the distal radio-ulnar joint. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 1985; 67: 247.
Wechsler RJ, Wehbe MA, Rifkin ND, Edeiken J, Branch HM. Computed tomography diagnosis of distal radioulnar subluxation. Skeletal Radiol 1987; 16: 1.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Nakamura, R., Horii, E., Imaeda, T. et al. Distal radioulnar joint subluxation and dislocation diagnosed by standard roentgenography. Skeletal Radiol. 24, 91–94 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00198067
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00198067