Abstract: Background: The ulnar impaction syndrome is degenerative condition characterized by ulnar wrist pain, swelling, and limitation motion related to excessive load bearing across the ulnar aspect of the wrist. The present study was conducted to assess the early diagnostic criteria and wrist arthroscopy treatment of UIS.
Materials & Methods: This study was conducted in the department of orthopaedics in year 2014. It included 10 cases of UIS. All the patients were evaluated clinically for pain, functional status, range of motion and grip strength after a follow up. Final clinical assessment of patients was performed by wrist function scoring system of Green and O'Brien modified by Cooney et al.
Results: Out of 10 examined patients, 7 were males and 3 were females. The difference was statistical significant (P-0.05). Clinical scoring system by Green and O'Brien modified by Cooney shows pain as none, mild moderate and severe with score of 25, 20, 15 and 0 respectively. Functional status as Returned to regular employment, Restricted employment, Able to work but unemployed, Unable to work because of pain with score 25, 20,15 and 0 respectively. Range of motion as full, 75-99%, 50-74%, 25-49%, < 25% of normal with score 25, 15 and 10 and 0 respectively. Grip strength as normal, 75-99%, 50-74%, 25-49%, 0- 24% with score 25, 15, 10, 5 and 0 respectively. Number of patients with right side injury was 6 and left side injury was 4. Ulnar variance <4mm was 8 and >4mm was 2. TFCC type II C injury was seen in 6 patients and TFCC type II D injury was seen in 4 patients. Palmar flexion was 46.02 mm before operation which increased to 51.11 after operation. Dorsal extension was 42.34 mm which increased to 45.55mm. Radial deviation was 18.43 mm which increased to 19.34 mm. ulnar deviation was 22.28 which increased to 25.34mm. Anterior rotation was 68.56 mm which increased to 77.45mm. Posterior rotation was 68.32 mm which increased to 76.59mm. In all cases wound healed without complications.
Conclusion: Wrist arthroscopy can be useful in improving the diagnosis rate, optimizing the treatment plan and shorten the treatment cycle. However large scale studies are required to substantiate the results obtained in this study.
