Osteotomy of the ulnar head for ulnar impingement syndrome

Abstract

Surgical Principles Decompression of the ulnar compartment of the wrist is achieved by increasing the distance between ulnar head and the proximal row of the carpus. It decreases the pressure on the articular disk and on articular cartilage. — A segment of the ulnar head will be removed through 2 parallel, oblique osteotomies. After exact apposition of the fragments, stabilization is obtained using the lag screw principle. This results in an ulnar shortening and a decompression (Figure 1). The congruency of the distal radio-ulnar joint is barely affected by this procedure.