J Wrist Surg 2023; 12(03): 261-264
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1740488
Case Report

Reconstruction of the Distal Oblique Bundle for DRUJ Instability

1   Department of Hand Surgery, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
2   Department of Translational Medicine - Hand Surgery, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
,
1   Department of Hand Surgery, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
2   Department of Translational Medicine - Hand Surgery, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
3   Department of Hand Surgery, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Background Treatment algorithm for disruption of the triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) from the ulnar fovea includes direct TFCC repair, tendon reconstruction of the radioulnar ligaments, or a salvage procedure in cases with painful distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) degeneration.

Case Description We describe our surgical technique for reconstruction of the distal oblique bundle (DOB), to attain DRUJ stability in a young man, after failed attempts of direct TFCC reinsertion and radioulnar ligament reconstruction with the Adams procedure.

Literature Review Reconstruction of the central band of the interosseous membrane is well recognized for Essex-Lopresti injuries that demonstrate longitudinal forearm instability. The role for reconstruction/reinforcement of the DOB to restore DRUJ stability after TFCC injury has not gained the same recognition and needs further clarification.

Clinical Relevance DOB reconstruction technique described is extra-articular and technically straightforward. We believe that the procedure could be considered for patients with an irreparable TFCC injury as a part of the treatment algorithm for younger patients, who otherwise would face a more extensive salvage procedure.



Publication History

Received: 18 February 2021

Accepted: 09 November 2021

Article published online:
31 December 2021

© 2021. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.
333 Seventh Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10001, USA

 
  • References

  • 1 Haugstvedt JR, Langer MF, Berger RA. Distal radioulnar joint: functional anatomy, including pathomechanics. J Hand Surg Eur Vol 2017; 42 (04) 338-345
  • 2 Palmer AK. Triangular fibrocartilage complex lesions: a classification. J Hand Surg Am 1989; 14 (04) 594-606
  • 3 Atzei A, Luchetti R, Garagnani L. Classification of ulnar triangular fibrocartilage complex tears. A treatment algorithm for Palmer type IB tears. J Hand Surg Eur Vol 2017; 42 (04) 405-414
  • 4 Adams BD, Berger RA. An anatomic reconstruction of the distal radioulnar ligaments for posttraumatic distal radioulnar joint instability. J Hand Surg Am 2002; 27 (02) 243-251
  • 5 Nakamura T, Abe K, Nishiwaki M, Iwamoto T, Sato K. Medium- to long-term outcomes of anatomical reconstruction of the radioulnar ligament to the ulnar fovea. J Hand Surg Eur Vol 2017; 42 (04) 352-356
  • 6 Garcia-Elias M, Smith DE, Llusá M. Surgical approach to the triangular fibrocartilage complex. Tech Hand Up Extrem Surg 2003; 7 (04) 134-140
  • 7 Adams JE. Forearm instability: anatomy, biomechanics, and treatment options. J Hand Surg Am 2017; 42 (01) 47-52
  • 8 Kitamura T, Moritomo H, Arimitsu S. et al. The biomechanical effect of the distal interosseous membrane on distal radioulnar joint stability: a preliminary anatomic study. J Hand Surg Am 2011; 36 (10) 1626-1630
  • 9 Low SL, Clippinger BB, Landfair GL, Criner-Woozley K. A biomechanical evaluation of the DRUJ after distal oblique bundle reconstruction. J Hand Surg Am 2020; 45 (05) 452.e1-452.e8 , e458
  • 10 Riggenbach MD, Conrad BP, Wright TW, Dell PC. Distal oblique bundle reconstruction and distal radioulnar joint instability. J Wrist Surg 2013; 2 (04) 330-336
  • 11 Riggenbach MD, Wright TW, Dell PC. Reconstruction of the distal oblique bundle of the interosseous membrane: a technique to restore distal radioulnar joint stability. J Hand Surg Am 2015; 40 (11) 2279-2282
  • 12 Brink PR, Hannemann PF. Distal oblique bundle reinforcement for treatment of DRUJ instability. J Wrist Surg 2015; 4 (03) 221-228
  • 13 Meyer DC, Snedeker JG, Weinert-Aplin RA, Farshad M. Viscoelastic adaptation of tendon graft material to compression: biomechanical quantification of graft preconditioning. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 2012; 132 (09) 1315-1320
  • 14 Stein AJ, Adabi K, Schofield JL, Marsh M, Paulo J. Anatomic dorsal and volar radioulnar ligament reconstruction with Mersilene augmentation for distal radioulnar joint instability. Tech Hand Up Extrem Surg 2015; 19 (01) 27-31
  • 15 Aita MA, Mallozi RC, Ozaki W, Ikeuti DH, Consoni DAP, Ruggiero GM. Ligamentous reconstruction of the interosseous membrane of the forearm in the treatment of instability of the distal radioulnar joint. Rev Bras Ortop 2018; 53 (02) 184-191