Traumatic Osteonecrosis of the Distal Ulna

Baris Yildirim; Francis P Bustos; Megan E Dibbern; A Rashard Dacus

doi:10.1016/j.jhsa.2021.05.019

Traumatic Osteonecrosis of the Distal Ulna

J Hand Surg Am. 2022 Aug;47(8):798.e1-798.e3. doi: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2021.05.019. Epub 2021 Jul 12.

Authors

Baris Yildirim¹, Francis P Bustos², Megan E Dibbern³, A Rashard Dacus²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA. Electronic address: BY3PW@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu.
² Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA.
³ Department of Pathology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA.

PMID: 34266684
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2021.05.019

Abstract

A 46-year-old male was referred to our clinic for persistent ulnar-sided wrist pain 9 weeks after sustaining a traumatic injury while playing volleyball. The patient unsuccessfully underwent nonoperative management for a suspected injury to the triangular fibrocartilage complex. After magnetic resonance imaging revealed a lesion of the distal ulna, he was treated with diagnostic wrist arthroscopy and Bowers hemiresection. The diagnosis of osteonecrosis was confirmed through histology. While traumatic osteonecrosis of the carpal bones has been described, no previous literature was found on traumatic osteonecrosis of the distal ulna. Treatment with diagnostic wrist arthroscopy and Bowers hemiresection resulted in an excellent outcome at 12 months after surgery.

Keywords: Avascular necrosis; Bowers hemiresection; distal ulna; osteonecrosis; traumatic.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Arthroscopy / methods
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Osteonecrosis* / diagnostic imaging
Osteonecrosis* / etiology
Osteonecrosis* / surgery
Triangular Fibrocartilage* / diagnostic imaging
Triangular Fibrocartilage* / injuries
Triangular Fibrocartilage* / surgery
Ulna / diagnostic imaging
Ulna / surgery
Wrist
Wrist Injuries* / surgery
Wrist Joint / surgery