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Showing posts from May, 2012

Ulnar wrist pain: TFCC injury & DD of Ulnar sided wrist pain

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Many ulnar wrist pains are obscure & according to Bottke both surgical exploration and nonoperative treatment have been less than satisfying. Most of the times specific physical examination and standard radiographs were unrevealing in these cases. Even with specific diagnostics test such as arthroscopy, treatment results could not be correlated with arthrographic findings (1). Ulnar wrist pain,Distal RUJ & TFCC: The distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) acts in concert with the proximal radioulnar joint to control forearm rotation. The DRUJ is stabilized by the triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC). This complex of fibrocartilage and ligaments support the joint through its arc of rotation, as well as provide a smooth surface for the ulnar side of the carpus. TFCC and DRUJ injuries are part of the common pattern of injuries we see with distal radius fractures. While much attention has been paid to the treatment of the distal radius fractures, many of the poor outcomes are due t...

Differential diagnosis of Anatomic (Radial) snuffbox pain: It is not always DeQuervain’s tenosynovitis.

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Tendon, Bone & Ligament causes: 1. DeQuervain’s tenosynovitis: Swelling of tendon of APL (Abductor pollicis longus) & extensor pollicis brevis at lateral wrist near anatomic snuff box.  The primary complaint is radial sided wrist pain that radiates up the forearm with grasping or extension of the thumb. The pain has been described as a “constant aching, burning, pulling sensation." Pain is often aggravated by repetitive lifting, gripping, or twisting motions of the hand. Swelling in the anatomical snuff box, tenderness at the radial styloid process, decreased CMC abduction ROM of the 1st digit, palpable thickening of the extensor sheaths of the 1st dorsal compartment and crepitus of the tendons moving from the extensor sheath may be found upon examination. Other possible findings include weakness and paresthesia in the hand. Finkelstein’s diagnostic test will present positive provoking the patient’s symptoms. If left untreated, the inflammation and progressive narro...