RADIOGRAPHIC MORPHOLOGY OF THE ULNAR HEAD

Abstract

Posteroanterior radiographs of 102 normal wrists were studied to determine the morphological characteristics of the ulnar head associated with the value of ulnar variance. Ulnar variance, ulnar styloid length, ulnar head diameter, ulnar seat inclination, and the distance of ulnar head peak to the distal radioulnar joint were measured together with the third metacarpal length as a reference of the size of the wrist. Moderate correlation was confirmed not only between ulnar variance and ulnar seat inclination but also between ulnar variance and the distance of the ulnar head peak. Furthermore, we found a statistically significant correlation between ulnar variance and ulnar head diameter. The results showed that whole ulnar head configurations are affected by ulnar variance although there are considerable variations.