Surgical transposition for chronic instability of the extensor carpi ulnaris tendon

Abstract

Painful extensor carpi ulnaris tendon instability has various treatments with limited available outcome data. We treated 12 wrists of 11 patients (including eight collegiate or professional athletes) with dorsal transposition of the extensor carpi ulnaris tendon to lie over the 5th compartment, stabilized with a retinacular sling from 2010–2015. All patients had symptom resolution and returned to sport at the pre-injury level by 3 months after surgery. Mean post-surgical Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) upper extremity score was 56, and PROMIS pain interference score was 42. Patient overall satisfaction averaged 9.8 points on a 10-point scale for the procedure and pain decreased by 6 points on a 10-point scale from before surgery to final follow-up. We conclude that surgical treatment of the extensor carpi ulnaris tendon instability via dorsal transposition of the extensor carpi ulnaris tendon is an effective surgical option for all patients including the high level athlete. Level of evidence: IV