Ulna Impaction Syndrome as a Result of a Radial Head Resection: A Case Description of 3 Patients

Abstract

The case reports of 3 young male patients are described. In all patients the radius head was taken away after a Mason IV fracture. After a few months there appeared in all three cases a plus variance of the ulna from 5-15 mm, lesions of the triangular disc and oedema in the first carpal bones. In two cases, the radius head was resected primarily. Both patients were manually hard working, and exercised regularly and played sport. Because of severe pain and restriction of movement in the wrist, both patients received secondary treatment of a prosthesis of the radius head. One of them also had an open wedge, shortening, osteotomy of the ulna. After the operation both patients were free of pain and after a few months could carry out their profession. A weakness in the pro- / supination was observed postoperatively, which improved gradually. The third case was a non-manual worker, who was inactive, the head of the radius was resected, as secondary treatment. The patient had less symptoms, therefore, he preferred to limit his professional activity to office work only. The radius head serves stability in the proximal and in the distal radio-ulna joint. Therefore, the indication to the resection should be evaluated critically.

Key words

ulna plus variance - resection of radius head - radius head prosthesis - ulna impaction syndrome - fracture of the radius capitulum

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