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Measurement of Ulnar Variance in Indian population
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| Author:
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DR. ATHIKARI, DR.KALANITHI RAMANUSAN, DR.YESHWANTH SUBASH
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| Abstract:
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Background and objectives: The wrist joint comprises of the articulation between the distal end of the radius and ulna forming the DRUJ (distal radioulnar joint). Ulnar variance is the difference between the relative lengths of the distal radius and ulna and variations in its anatomy can predispose to various pathologic conditions which can affect the wrist joint and can be a source of wrist pain and decrease in function of the affected joint. The aim of this study was to measure the ulnar variance in a section of Indian population and to evaluate the incidence of the normal anatomic variants seen and compare our results with the studies of other authors as reported in literature.
Methods: 30 volunteers with normal and functional wrist joints who presented to our hospital between January 2018 to June 2018 who were willing to participate in our study and take radiographs were included. Standard PA radiographs in neutral rotation as well as in complete pronation and supination were taken and the ulnar variance was measured by the method of perpendiculars technique and all values recorded were documented and the type of variance was noted.
Results: There were 17 males and 13 females in our study with 22 patients being right side dominant and 8 patients with left handed dominance. The mean ulnar variance noted in our study was found to be +0.42 mm±1.48 with the minimum being -0.38 and the maximum was +3.2 mm with a range of 6.7 mm. There was a statistically significant difference in the ulnar variance seen in the pronation-neutral group and the pronation-supination group radiographs with P < 0.05. There was a higher incidence of negative ulnar variance noted in this study population accounting for 70% of patients with 30% having a neutral ulnar variance. There were no patients with a positive ulnar variance in this study which was statistically significant with P<0.001.
Interpretation and Conclusions: The measurement of ulnar variance in a section of Indian population showed a predominance of ulnar negative variants followed by ulnar neutral with no cases of ulnar positive variants seen. We believe that screening of patients for ulnar variance could help as a prognostic as well as a diagnostic tool for prediction of possible wrist joint pathology. We recommend that the radiographs taken for the evaluation of ulnar variance be done in complete pronation and supination as well due to the changes seen in the variance with rotation of the forearm.
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| Keyword:
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Ulnar variance; Indian population; Positive; Negative; Method of perpendiculars.
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| EOI:
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| DOI:
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https://doi.org/10.31838/ijpr/2020.12.01.013
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| Download:
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