Distal radioulnar joint subluxation and dislocation diagnosed by standard roentgenography

• Published in: Skeletal radiology 1995-02, Vol.24 (2), p.91-94
• Main Authors: NAKAMURA, R, HORII, E, IMAEDA, T, TSUNODA, K, NAKAO, E
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Female; Humans; Injuries of the limb. Injuries of the spine; Joint Dislocations - diagnostic imaging; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Radius - diagnostic imaging; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Traumas. Diseases due to physical agents; Ulna - diagnostic imaging; Wrist Injuries - diagnostic imaging; Wrist Joint - diagnostic imaging
• ISSN: 0364-2348; 1432-2161
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00198067

The use of standard lateral roentgenography for diagnosing distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) subluxation and dislocation was investigated. Using a wrist support, bilateral standard lateral roentgenograms of the wrist were obtained in 42 patients with normal wrists and in 56 patients with a unilateral wrist injury. In normal wrists the difference between the radioulnar distance in the right and the left wrist did not exceed 4 mm when the difference in the pisoscaphoid distance was less than 3 mm. Of the 36 patients with wrist injury whose difference in pisoscaphoid distance was less than 3 mm, 15 had a radioulnar distance of 5 mm or more, and computed tomography (CT) confirmed DRUJ dislocation in 14. Concordance between lateral roentgenograms and CT was present in 33 of 36 patients (92%). These results demonstrate the value of a standardized technique for bilateral lateral roentgenography in diagnosing DRUJ subluxation and dislocation.