[Treatment of traumatic ulnar styloid impaction syndrome by Sauvé-Kapandji procedure].

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effectiveness of Sauvé-Kapandji procedure in the treatment of traumatic ulnar styloid impaction syndrome.

METHODS

Between June 2010 and January 2013, 12 patients with traumatic ulnar styloid impaction syndrome were treated by Sauvé-Kapandji procedure. There were 4 men and 8 women, with an average age of 58.9 years (range, 50-69 years). The disease was caused by traffic accident in 1 case, and by falling from height in 11 cases. All patients had dislocation of the distal radioulnar joint, and 7 patients also had old fractures of the distal radius. The main clinical symptoms were pain and limited activity of the wrist joint, and the disease duration was 2-4 months (mean, 3.5 months). The visual analogue scale (VAS) was 6.2±1.4. The clinical outcomes were assessed by VAS, range of motion (ROM) of the wrist, grip strength, Evans score, and X-ray film of wrist joint during follow-up.

RESULTS

All patients obtained healing of incision by first intention and were followed up 37-73 months (mean, 58.4 months); no complication of infection, blood vessel injury, or nerves injury occurred. VAS was 1.2±1.0 at the final follow-up, showing significant difference when compared with preoperative one ( =9.950, =0.000). The ROM of the affected wrist joint in flexion, extension, ulnar deviation, forearm pronation and supination were improved, but the ROM of the affected side were significantly less than those of normal side ( <0.05). No significant difference was found in the grip strength and Evans score between the affected side and normal side ( =-0.885, =0.386; =-1.969, =0.062). According to Evans scores, the results were excellent in 8 cases, good in 3 cases, and fair in 1 case, with an excellent and good rate of 91.7%. Postoperative radiographs showed bony healing in all patients, with the average healing time of 3.5 months (range, 3-6 months). The instability of proximal ulna occurred in 3 cases.

CONCLUSION

Sauvé-Kapandji procedure is a reliable remedy method for traumatic ulnar styloid impaction syndrome, with favorable improvement in wrist pain and forearm rotation. However, the surgical indications for Sauvé-Kapandji procedure should be strictly controlled.