Ulnar variance
Updates to Article Attributes
Ulnar variance (also known as Hulten variance) refers to the relative lengths of the distal articular surfaces of the radius and ulna.
Ulnar variance may be:
- neutral (both the ulnar and radial articular surfaces at the same level)
- positive (ulna projects more distally)
- negative (ulna projects more proximally)
Variance is independent of the length of the ulnar styloid process.
Pathology
CausesAetiology
- trauma or mechanical
- distal radius/ulnar fractures with shortening (e.g. impaction)
&and angulation - DRUJ ligamentous injuries (e.g. Galeazzi
&and Essex-Lopresti-fracture dislocations) - surgical shortening of ulna or radius
- growth arrest (e.g. previous Salter-Harris fracture)
- distal radius/ulnar fractures with shortening (e.g. impaction)
- congenital
Associations
- positive ulnar variance is associated with ulnar impaction syndrome.
- negative ulnar variance is associated with Kienbock disease and ulnar impingement syndrome
Radiographic assessment
Ulnar variance changes with wrist position (more positive with maximum forearm pronation and negative with maximum forearm supination) and increases significantly during a firm grip 1.
To determine ulnar variance on radiographs, the generally accepted standard view is a posteroanterior view obtained with the wrist in neutral forearm rotation, the elbow flexed 90° and the shoulder abducted 90°.
Positive variance occurs when the level of the ulna is greater than 2>2.5 mm beyond the radius margin at the distal radio-ulnar joint. Negative variance is when the ulna is 2≤2.5 mm or more shorter than the radius at the DRUJref required.
MRI
MRI can estimate, but cannot reliably quantify, the degree of ulnar variance because the specific wrist position usually cannot be duplicated with MR imaging.
See also
-<p><strong>Ulnar variance</strong> (also known as <strong>Hulten variance</strong>) refers to the relative lengths of the distal articular surfaces of the radius and ulna. </p><p>Ulnar variance may be :</p><ul>- +<p><strong>Ulnar variance</strong> (also known as <strong>Hulten variance</strong>) refers to the relative lengths of the distal articular surfaces of the radius and ulna. </p><p>Ulnar variance may be:</p><ul>
-</ul><p>Variance is independent of the length of the ulnar styloid process.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><h5>Causes</h5><ul>- +</ul><p>Variance is independent of the length of the ulnar styloid process.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><h5>Aetiology</h5><ul>
-<li>distal radius/ulnar fractures with shortening (e.g. impaction) & angulation</li>-<li>DRUJ ligamentous injuries (e.g. Galeazzi & Essex-Lopresti)</li>- +<li>distal radius/ulnar fractures with shortening (e.g. impaction) and angulation</li>
- +<li>DRUJ ligamentous injuries (e.g. <a title="Galeazzi fracture dislocation" href="/articles/galeazzi-fracture-dislocation">Galeazzi</a> and <a title="Essex-Lopresti fracture-dislocation" href="/articles/essex-lopresti-fracture-dislocation">Essex-Lopresti-fracture dislocations</a>)</li>
-<li>growth arrest (e.g. previous Salter-Harris fracture)</li>- +<li>growth arrest (e.g. previous <a title="Salter-Harris fracture" href="/articles/physeal-fracture">Salter-Harris fracture</a>)</li>
-</ul><h4>Radiographic assessment</h4><p>Ulnar variance changes with wrist position (more positive with maximum forearm pronation and negative with maximum forearm supination) and increases significantly during a firm grip <sup>1</sup>.</p><p>To determine ulnar variance on radiographs, the generally accepted standard view is a posteroanterior view obtained with the wrist in neutral forearm rotation, the elbow flexed 90° and the shoulder abducted 90°.</p><p>Positive variance occurs when the level of the ulna is greater than 2.5 mm beyond the radius margin at the distal radio-ulnar joint. Negative variance is when the ulna is 2.5 mm or more shorter than the radius at the DRUJ. </p><h5>MRI</h5><p>MRI can estimate, but cannot reliably quantify, the degree of ulnar variance because the specific wrist position usually cannot be duplicated with MR imaging. </p><h4>See also</h4><ul>- +</ul><h4>Radiographic assessment</h4><p>Ulnar variance changes with wrist position (more positive with maximum forearm pronation and negative with maximum forearm supination) and increases significantly during a firm grip <sup>1</sup>.</p><p>To determine ulnar variance on radiographs, the generally accepted standard view is a posteroanterior view obtained with the wrist in neutral forearm rotation, the elbow flexed 90° and the shoulder abducted 90°.</p><p>Positive variance occurs when the level of the ulna is >2.5 mm beyond the radius margin at the distal radio-ulnar joint. Negative variance is when the ulna is ≤2.5 mm than the radius at the DRUJ <sup>ref required</sup>. </p><h5>MRI</h5><p>MRI can estimate, but cannot reliably quantify, the degree of ulnar variance because the specific wrist position usually cannot be duplicated with MR imaging. </p><h4>See also</h4><ul>
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