THE ULNOCARPAL STRESS TEST IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF ULNAR-SIDED WRIST PAIN

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.