R. Nakamura et al., THE ULNOCARPAL STRESS TEST IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF ULNAR-SIDED WRIST PAIN, Journal of hand surgery. British volume, 22B(6), 1997, pp. 719-723
Forty-five patients with persistent ulnar-sided wrist pain and a posit
ive ulnocarpal stress test were investigated by X-ray, arthrography, (
99m)Technetium bone scanning, magnetic resonance imaging and wrist art
hroscopy, Ulnar wrist pathology was positively identified in nine of 4
5 patients by X-ray, 18 of 37 by arthrography, 19 of 27 by bone scan,
four of 33 by MRI, and in all 45 patients by arthroscopy, The final di
agnosis was ulnocarpal abutment syndrome in 28 patients, traumatic tri
angular fibrocartilage (TFC) tear in six, lunotriquetral (LT) ligament
tear in five, TFC and LT ligament tear in one, wrist arthritis in fou
r and cartilaginous free body in one. The ulnocarpal stress test is a
useful provocative test, and a positive test suggests the presence of
ulnar-sided wrist pathology. The test is sufficiently sensitive to war
rant further investigation by arthroscopy.