Distal Ulnar Fractures and Traumatic Injuries of the Distal Radio-Ulnar Joint
The distal end of the ulna is rarely fractured(broken) in isolation except when direct trauma like a gunshot wound or a direct blow to the ulna occurs when the arm is elevated to protect the face. The ulnar styloid which is a small extension of the distal ulna and where the distal radioulnar ligaments attach, in contrast to the ulnar shaft, is frequently fractured in association with distal radius fractures. The treatment of the ulnar styloid fracture depends on thestability the distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) demonstrated once the radial fracture has been fixed. When an ulnar styloid fracture is associated with DRUJ instability, the ulnar styloid fracture is most commonly fixed with pins and a wire called a tension band technique. DRUJ instability will affect the normal function of the wristand presents a significant challenge to reconstruct if missed initially.