Negative ulnar variance

Last revised by Daniel J Bell ◉ on 14 Oct 2022

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Singh G, Bell D, Kite D, et al. Negative ulnar variance. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 08 Jun 2023) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-7177

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-7177

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/7177

rID:

7177

Article created:

13 Sep 2009, Gagandeep Singh

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Gagandeep Singh had no recorded disclosures.

View Gagandeep Singh's current disclosures

Last revised:

14 Oct 2022, Daniel J Bell ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Daniel J Bell had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.

View Daniel J Bell's current disclosures

Revisions:

35 times, by 14 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Musculoskeletal

Synonyms:

Negative ulnar variances

Negative ulnar variance describes a state where the ulna is abnormally shortened (by more than 2.5 mm) compared to the radius and plays an important role in wrist pathology.

There is a significant association between negative ulnar variance and Kienböck disease, although the majority of people with negative ulnar variance do not have this condition. A causal association is difficult to prove, however the effectiveness of decompressive procedures such as radial shortening or ulnar lengthening in relieving pain and preventing further collapse of the lunate supports this ¹.

Ulnar impingement syndrome, a wrist condition caused by a shortened distal ulna impinging on the distal radius proximal to the sigmoid notch of radius, is usually due to acquired ulnar shortening but can be due to de novo negative ulnar variance ².