ULNAR SHORTENING USING THE AO SMALL DISTRACTOR

Twenty-four patients (24 wrists) with ulnar impaction syndrome underwe nt ulnar shortening osteotomy. They were reviewed retrospectively to e valuate a technique using the AO small distractor and 2.7-mm dynamic c ompression plate. A transverse osteotomy using an external compression device and compression plating was performed in all cases. The averag e followup time was 32 months. Clinical and radiographic union occurre d at an average of 9.7 weeks. There were no nonunions. This study demo nstrates that ulnar transverse shortening osteotomy with external comp ression and plating is a simple and effective method of ulnar shorteni ng, and that highly precise and complex instrumentation is not essenti al.