Outcomes of ulna shortening osteotomy: a cohort analysis of 106 patients

Background Ulna shortening osteotomy (USO) for ulnar impaction syndrome (UIS) aims to improve pain and function by unloading the ulnar carpus. Previous studies often lack validated patient-reported outcomes or have small sample sizes. The primary objective of this study was to investigate patient-reported pain and hand function at 12 months after USO for UIS. Secondary objectives were to investigate the active range of motion, grip strength, complications, and whether outcomes differed based on etiology. Materials and methods We report on 106 patients with UIS who received USO between 2012 and 2019. In 44 of these patients, USO was performed secondary to distal radius fracture. Pain and function were measured with the Patient Rated Wrist/Hand Evaluation (PRWHE) before surgery and at 3 and 12 months after surgery. Active range of motion and grip strength were measured before surgery and at 3 and 12 months after surgery. Complications were scored using the International Consortium for Health Outcome Measurement Complications in Hand and Wrist conditions (ICHAW) tool. Results The PRWHE total score improved from a mean of 64 (SD = 18) before surgery to 40 (22) at 3 months and 32 (23) at 12 months after surgery (P < 0.001; effect size Cohen’s d = −1.4). There was no difference in the improvement in PRWHE total score (P = 0.99) based on etiology. Also, no clinically relevant changes in the active range of motion were measured. Independent of etiology, mean grip strength improved from 24 (11) before surgery to 30 (12) at 12 months (P = 0.001). Sixty-four percent of patients experienced at least one complication, ranging from minor to severe. Of the 80 complications in total, 50 patients (47%) had complaints of hardware irritation, of which 34 (32%) had their hardware removed. Six patients (6%) needed refixation because of nonunion. Conclusion We found beneficial outcomes in patients with UIS that underwent USO, although there was a large variance in the outcome and a relatively high number of complications (which includes plate removals). Results of this study may be used in preoperative counseling and shared decision-making when considering USO. Level of evidence Therapeutic III.

Nonunion and Reoperation After Ulna Shortening Osteotomy

Background: The primary purpose of our study was to identify factors associated with reoperation after ulna shortening osteotomy. Our secondary aims were to determine the rate and type of reoperation procedures. Methods: In this retrospective study, we included patients older than 18 years of age who underwent an ulna shortening osteotomy between January 2003 and December 2015. Medical records of patients were assessed for our explanatory variables, reoperations, and reporting of symptoms. We used bivariate and multivariable analyses to identify factors associated with reoperation after ulna shortening osteotomy. Results: Among 94 patients who underwent 98 ulna shortening osteotomies, there were 34 reoperations (35%). Nineteen patients (19%) underwent removal of hardware, 6 (6.1%) had a nonunion, and 9 (9.2%) underwent additional surgeries. Surgery on their dominant limb, trauma, and prior surgery to the ipsilateral wrist were associated with reoperation. In multivariable analysis, factors independently associated with reoperation were the dominant side being affected (odds ratio = 3.9; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.36-11) and traumatic origin (odds ratio = 3.4; 95% CI = 1.1-11). Bivariate analysis identified younger age and prior surgery of the affected wrist as factors associated with hardware removal. More operations for refixation due to nonunion of osteotomy were performed in patients with a transverse osteotomy compared with patients with an oblique osteotomy. Conclusions: One in 3 patients will undergo a reoperation after ulna shortening osteotomy, most often due to hardware irritation or nonunion of osteotomy. Awareness of these rates and predictive factors may be helpful for preoperative discussions and surgical decision making.

Operative treatment of ulnar impaction syndrome: a systematic review

This article critically and systematically reviews the surgical treatments for ulnar impaction syndrome. Three types of treatments currently exist: arthroscopic wafer procedure, open wafer procedure, and ulna shortening osteotomy. A total of 36 articles were included from searching the electronic databases PubMed MEDLINE, Ovid MEDLINE, and Ovid EMBASE. Studies were evaluated for quality using the Modified Detsky Score. Of these, 14 articles had a Modified Detsky Score of 6/10 or higher. Satisfaction rates were 100% for arthroscopic wafer procedure, 89% for open wafer procedure, and 84% for ulna shortening osteotomy. The percentage of participants reporting an excellent or good outcome was 82% for arthroscopic wafer procedure, 87% for open wafer procedure, and 76% for ulna shortening osteotomy. In conclusion, available evidence shows that arthroscopic wafer procedure and open wafer procedure may be viable alternatives to the more popular ulna shortening osteotomy, but clinical superiority is yet to be established. Future research should focus on prospective cohort methods and should report participant outcomes using validated scoring methods.