Scientific articleThe Biomechanical Effect of the Distal Interosseous Membrane on Distal Radioulnar Joint Stability: A Preliminary Anatomic Study
Section snippets
Specimen preparation
Ten fresh-frozen cadaver upper extremities (5 male, 5 female), amputated at the mid-portion of the humerus, were used for this study. The ages ranged from 59 to 91 years (mean, 79 y). There was no history of wrist or forearm trauma or disease in any of the specimens. All specimens were evaluated radiographically, and we rejected any specimens with evidence of instability or articular pathology. The specimen's ulnar variance was also assessed using posteroanterior radiographs. Six cases were
Biomechanical analysis
The average DRUJ laxity (mean ± SD) of the 10 specimens was 18.8 ± 5.4 mm in the neutral position, 14.3 ± 4.1 mm in pronation, and 16.0 ± 4.1 mm in supination. Average DRUJ laxity (mean ± SD) in the group with a DOB (n = 4) was 14.8 ± 4.4 mm in neutral position, 11.9 ± 5.2 mm in pronation, and 13.3 ± 4.5 mm in supination. The group with a DOB showed a significantly greater DRUJ stability in the neutral position than the group without a DOB (P < .05) (Fig. 2). In the pronated and supinated
Discussion
We found in this study that the degree of displacement of the radius relative to the ulna was smaller in the group with a DOB than without a DOB in the neutral forearm position, which suggests that DRUJ laxity was greater in the group without a DOB than with a DOB. The TFCC is the primary soft-tissue DRUJ stabilizer and, in normal situations, the influence of the DIOM on the DRUJ stability is relatively inconsequential. However, after TFCC injury or ulnar head resection, it is likely that the
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All work performed at Mayo Clinic Rochester.
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