INCIDENCE OF CARTILAGINOUS AND LIGAMENTOUS LESIONS OF THE RADIO-CARPAL AND DISTAL RADIOULNAR JOINT IN AN ELDERLY POPULATION

51 wrists of 30 embalmed cadavers have been used to perform an anatomi cal and radiological study relating cartilaginous and ligamentous lesi ons of the wrist with sex, age, ulnar variance (UV) and the state of t he triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) in an elderly population ( mean 76.6 years). Two-thirds of all wrists (66%) showed cartilaginous lesions, mainly on the lunate (22, or 44%). The TFCC was perforated in 23 wrists (46%), and most were central degenerative perforations. Cor relations were found between ulnar variance and TFCC thickness (P<0.05 ) and ulnar variance and TFCC perforations (P<0.05). A significant rel ation was observed between age and proximal row intercarpal ligamentou s ruptures (P<0.05) and between age and ulnar variance (P<0.05). No st atistical correlation was seen between ulnar variance and cartilaginou s lesions on the lunate (P<0.05) in this slightly ulnar negative popul ation (mean -0.37 mm).