Should an ulnar styloid fracture be fixed following volar plate fixation of a distal radial fracture?

BACKGROUND

Ulnar styloid fractures often occur in association with distal radial fractures. The purpose of this study was to determine whether an associated ulnar styloid fracture following stable fixation of a distal radial fracture has any effect on wrist function or on the development of chronic distal radioulnar joint instability.

METHODS

One hundred and thirty-eight consecutive patients who underwent surgical treatment of an unstable distal radial fracture were included in this study. During surgery, none of the accompanying ulnar styloid fractures were internally fixed. Patients were divided into nonfracture, nonbase fracture, and base fracture groups, on the basis of the location of the ulnar styloid fracture, and into nonfracture, minimally displaced (< or =2 mm), and considerably displaced (>2 mm) groups, according to the amount of ulnar styloid fracture displacement at the time of injury. Postoperative evaluation included measurement of grip strength and wrist range of motion; calculation of the modified Mayo wrist score and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score; as well as testing for instability of the distal radioulnar joint at a mean of nineteen months postoperatively.

RESULTS

Ulnar styloid fractures were present in seventy-six (55%) of the 138 patients. Forty-seven (62%) involved the nonbase portion of the ulnar styloid and twenty-nine (38%) involved the base of the ulnar styloid. Thirty-four (45%) were minimally displaced, and forty-two (55%) were considerably (>2 mm) displaced. We did not find a significant relationship between wrist functional outcomes and ulnar styloid fracture level or the amount of displacement. Chronic instability of the distal radioulnar joint occurred in two wrists (1.4%).

CONCLUSIONS

An accompanying ulnar styloid fracture in patients with stable fixation of a distal radial fracture has no apparent adverse effect on wrist function or stability of the distal radioulnar joint.