Stress fracture of the ulnar styloid protuberance

Stress fractures of the upper extremities are uncommon but can be a serious source of morbidity if not correctly diagnosed. We present a rare case of a 49-year-old female typist, who reported a 4-month history of a pain located in the region of the left lower ulnar epiphysis and extended to the left portion of the wrist. The patient did not mention any injury. The pain was exacerbated during typing and the clinical diagnosis of tendonitis was made initially. Because of the patient's persistent symptoms, she underwent a plain radiograph investigation in the region of the left lower forearm and wrist, which did not reveal any bone lesion. Consequently, we performed a 3-phase bone scan that showed findings consistent with a fracture of the left ulnar styloid protuberance. The fracture was thought to have a stress origin attributed to the patient's tough working.