Objective: To analyze the therapy and effectiveness of ulnar styloid fracture complicated with wrist dorsal branch of ulnar nerve injury.
Methods: Between October 2005 and October 2012, 16 cases of ulnar styloid fracture complicated with wrist dorsal branch of ulnar nerve injury were treated. There were 14 males and 2 females with an average age of 42 years (range, 22-58 years). Fracture was caused by traffic accident in 8 cases, by mechanical crush in 5 cases, and by falling in 3 cases. According to the anatomical features of the ulnar styloid and imaging findings, ulnar styloid fractures were classified as type I (ulnar styloid tip fracture) in 1 case and type II (ulnar styloid base fracture) in 15 cases. The skin sensation of ulnar wrist was S0 in 5 cases, S1 in 1 case, S2 in 7 cases, and S3 in 3 cases according to the criteria of the British Medical Research Council in 1954 for the sensory functions of the ulnar wrist. The time from injury to operation was 6-72 hours (mean, 18 hours). Fracture was treated by operative fixation, and nerve was repaired by epineurium neurolysis in 13 cases of nerve contusion and by sural nerve graft in 3 cases of complete nerve rupture.
Results: All incisions healed by first intention. Sixteen patients were followed up for an average time of 14 months (range, 6-24 months). The X-ray films showed that all of them achieved bone union at 4-10 weeks after operation (mean, 6 weeks). No patient had complications such as ulnar wrist chronic pain and an inability to rotate. According to Green-O'Brien wrist scoring system, the results were excellent in 13 cases and good in 3 cases; according to the criteria of the British Medical Research Council in 1954 for the sensory functions of the ulnar wrist, the results were excellent in all cases, including 11 cases of S4 and 5 cases of S3+. Two-point discrimination of the ulnar wrist was 5-9 mm (mean, 6.6 mm).
Conclusion: For patients with ulnar styloid fracture complicated with wrist dorsal branch of ulnar nerve injury, internal fixation and nerve repair should be performed. It can prevent ulnar wrist pain and promote sensory recovery.