Ulnar Wrist Pain

Overview

Mayo Clinic orthopedic surgeons are the first to identify a new type of tear in a wrist ligament (the ulnotriquetral (UT) ligament), as well as develop a test to identify the tear and a procedure to repair it.

The UT is a ligament in the wrist that connects a person's two forearm bones. Injury to the UT can cause a splitting whereby the ligament still connects the two forearm bones, but is ripped apart lengthwise. Such a split tear causes pain and can leave a person unable to perform simple tasks such as play sports, turn a key in a lock or open a jar.

For years, Mayo Clinic physicians have been researching how to diagnose UT split tears because the injuries aren't detected by more common methods such as X-ray, MRI or arthroscopy. Typically, a patient's only symptom is pain. After reviewing clinical records of patients with wrist pain, Mayo Clinic physicians discovered that most tested positive for tenderness in their ulnar fovea, a ligament within the wrist.

Ranked #1 in U.S. News and World Report's Best Hospitals Honor Roll, Mayo Clinic orthopedic surgeons in Rochester, Minn., are world leaders in developing innovative ways to diagnose and treat orthopedic injuries.

Diagnosis

Symptoms of a UT split tear are typically noticed soon after the injury, which can occur during low-impact moments, with pain reappearing consistently or periodically. Diagnosis may be delayed because patients can often carry on with tasks while experiencing bearable pain. Patient evaluation can occur at any time following injury, increasing in necessity once patients experience increased pain levels.

Mayo Clinic physicians perform a simple physical exam to determine if a UT split tear has occurred. The physician presses down on the patient's ulnar fovea to determine if the pressure causes pain similar to that experienced by the patient when he or she uses the wrist. When the test is positive, physicians are confident the patient has a damaged ligament.

Treatment Options

Treatment option for UT split tear is minimally-invasive surgery in almost all cases. Physicians suture the torn ligament arthroscopically and immobilize the patients' forearm to allow it to heal. Most patients return to unrestricted activities without pain six weeks after surgery, and are able to use their wrists at full strength within a few months.

About Ulnar Wrist Pain

The UT is a ligament housed within the ulnar side of the wrist, connecting two forearm bones, and located at the axis of the wrist's rotation. A split tear causes the ligament to be ripped apart much like a stalk of celery, with pressure placed on the ligament producing pain.