Background: The variation of level of distal articulating surface of ulna with respect to distal articulating surface of radius is known as ulnar variance (UV). Positive and negative UV has been implicated in various wrist and hand pathologies.
Aim: To measure ulnar variance in a regional subset of Indian population and to compare two techniques of measurement of ulnar variance viz. method of perpendiculars and modification of the concentric circles method.
Materials and methods: UV was measured in a regional subset of Indian population comprising of 30 subjects. The mean age of patients was 35.9 years. There were 16 males and 14 females in the study group. Antero-posterior (AP) X-rays of wrist in neutral position were taken and UV was measured using method of perpendiculars and the modified circle method.
Results: The mean UV using method of perpendiculars (UVA) was 0.387 mm and using modified circle method (UVB) was 0.507mm. A higher predominance of positive UV in this regional subset of Indian population was observed. There was no correlation between UV with respect to age and sex. No statistically significant difference was observed between the two methods of measurement utilized in the study.
Conclusion: The documentation of a negative and positive ulnar variance will help in prophylactic and timely intervention for various wrist pathologies, if required. However, a larger sample size with a longer follow up is required to suggest a correlation of ulnar variance with clinically symptomatic disease.
Keywords: Method of perpendiculars; Modified circle method; Negative ulnar variance; Positive ulnar variance.