Objective To explore a method of treating Madelung deformity. Methods Seven cases of Madelung deformity had been treated with the excision of ulnar carpi ulnaris segment and distal osteotomyof radius and tight constrict of extensor carpi ulnaris from Mar. 2000 to Nov. 2003. The angle of ulnar tilting was 37-70° and the angle of volar tilting wasover 16°. A longitudinal incision on each side of the radius and ulnar was made, the ulna was excised about 2-3 cm segment. Then the fracture of ulna was fixed by double across vertical steel wire and the radius was fixed with medullarywire. Lastly the extensor carpi ulnaris was shortened and sutured after the wrist was located restposition. Results After surgery, the deformity of wrist was improved and pain-free in the seven cases. The angle of ulnar tilting was reduced to 22-24°. The angle of volar tilting was reduced to 15° below. Follow-ups were conducted inthe 7 patients for 2 years in average. The activity of wrist joint and the rotation of forearm recovered from those before operation. The wrist joint could stretch fully. Conclusion This method of treating Madelung proves to be effective inrecovering deformity, releasing pain, improving function, and reducing traumatic osteoarthritics of the distal radioulnar joint.
Objective To investigate the effectiveness of sequential plate internal fixation in the correction of Madelung deformity after ulnar osteotomy and shortening. Methods The clinical data of 13 patients with Madelung deformity admitted between September 2015 and July 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 5 males and 8 females with an average age of 18.3 years ranging from 17 to 23 years. The disease duration ranged from 12 to 24 months, with an average of 17 months. Three cases had a clear history of trauma. All patients had external radial deviation deformity and limited movement of the ulnar deviation, and the ulnar impact pain was significant during ulnar deviation movement; 9 patients had limited wrist joint supination movement, and the supination movement was normal. In the first stage, ulnar osteotomy and shortening combined with external fixator were used to correct wrist deformity in 13 patients. After operation, bone transfer was performed 6 times per day, with adjustments made every 4 hours, which was 1 mm per day. After the osteotomy was in place, the ulnar plate internal fixation was performed to reconstruct the ulnar stability in the second stage. The Cooney wrist joint score was used to assess the pain, function, range of motion, flexion and extension range of motion, and grip strength of the wrist joint before operation and before the removal of internal fixator. The subjective feeling and appearance satisfaction of patients were recorded. ResultsAfter the second-stage operation, all the 13 patients were followed up 10-22 months, with an average of 15 months. The deformity of wrist joint disappeared after operation, and the flexion, extension, and ulnar deviation were basically normal. There was no complication such as ulnar impingement sign, nonunion or infection. Wrist function, pain, and range of motion were significantly improved after operation, except for 1 patient who had no significant improvement in rotation and pain. The ulnar internal fixator was removed at 10-18 months after the second-stage operation. The scores of pain, function, range of motion, flexion and extension range of motion, and grip strength in the Cooney wrist score before removal of internal fixator significantly improved when compared with those before operation (P<0.05). Subjective and appearance satisfaction of patients were excellent in 9 cases, good in 3 cases, and fair in 1 case. ConclusionUlnar osteotomy and shortening with sequential plate internal fixation for correction of Madelung deformity, with mild postoperative pain, can effectively avoid bone nonunion, improve wrist joint function, and have significant effectiveness.