Ulnar Shortening Osteotomy: Are Complications Under Reported?

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Hand Surgery
• Upper Extremity Reconstruction

Background:

• Ulnar impaction syndrome is a condition requiring surgical intervention.
• Ulnar shortening osteotomy is a recognized treatment for this syndrome.
• Various surgical techniques exist, but complication profiles vary.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the outcomes of oblique ulnar shortening osteotomy using a jig technique.
• To assess the complication rates associated with this specific surgical method.
• To compare findings with existing literature on ulnar shortening osteotomy.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of a single surgeon's case series over 10 years (2001-2011).
• Inclusion of all patients who underwent ulnar shortening osteotomy.
• Analysis of case notes for surgical technique and complication data.

Main Results:

• Oblique ulnar osteotomy with a jig demonstrated reliability in ulna shortening, maintaining alignment, rotation, and compression.
• Majority of patients experienced symptom improvement.
• Reported complication rates included metalwork irritation (51%), non-union (6.3%), refracture (1.6%), and chronic regional pain syndrome (1.6%).

Conclusions:

• Oblique ulnar osteotomy using a jig is a reliable and reproducible technique.
• The morbidity associated with the procedure may be underestimated.
• Appropriate patient counseling regarding potential complications is essential.