The Influence of Ulnar Variance on Kienböck’s Disease in Korean

Journal of the Korean Society for Surgery of the Hand 2005;10(1):9-13.
Published online March 1, 2005.

Min Jong Park, Ji Soon Lim, Jong Pil Kim, Hong Jae Kang

한국인 Kienböck씨 병 환자에서의 척골 변이

박민종, 임지순, 김종필, 강홍제

Abstract

Purpose
To reveal relationship between ulnar variance and Kienbock's disease in Korean. Materials and Methods: Plain radiographs of 100 normal control wrists and 32 wrists with Kienböck’s disease in Korean were examined. Ulnar variance was measured using ‘method of perpendiculars’ by two examiners. Ulnar variance of patients with Kienböck’s disease was compaired with that of normal controls. We retrospectively reviewed the patient’s record to find the patients who had concomitant ulnocarpal impingement in the same wrist. Results: Average ulna variance of patients with Kienböck’s disease was +0.5 mm and average ulna variance of normal controls was +0.9 mm. Negative ulnar variance was found in 22% of patients with Kienböck’s disease and 10% of normal controls. Statistically Kienböck’s disease showed poor relationship with negative ulna variance. Four of 32 patients with Kienböck’s disease were considered to have symptoms and pathologic lesions associated with ulnocarpal impingement. Conclusion: This study showed negative ulnar variance has little influence as a causative factor on Kienböck’s disease in Korean. High incidence of positive ulnar variance in Koreans with Kienböck’s disease suggests the potential development of ulnocarpal impingement in the same wrist. These findings should be considered when the surgical options are determined to treat Kienböck’s disease in Koreans.