Feger J, Willox G, Saber M, Ulnar collateral ligament of the wrist. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 08 Dec 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-82037
The ulnar collateral ligament of the wrist is an extrinsic dorsal ulnocarpal ligament and functions as a part of the triangular fibrocartilage complex as an ulnar stabilizer of the wrist1-3.
The ulnar collateral ligament connects the ulnar styloid process with the triquetrum in a longitudinal orientation deep to the extensor carpi ulnaris tendon and superficial to the ulnomeniscal homologue forming the most ulnar part of the joint capsule 1-2. It is a component of the triangular fibrocartilage complex. It blends with the extensor carpi ulnaris tendon sheath.
Attachments
The proximal insertion or origin of the ulnar collateral ligament is the ulnar styloid tip 1.
Distal insertions are the proximal ulnar surface of the triquetral bone1.
Radiographic features
Ultrasound
The ulnar collateral ligament can be visualized on ultrasound with the transducer placed over the ulnar styloid process at the ulnar aspect of the radial deviated pronated wrist in the longitudinal plane. The long axis of the ligament is displayed as a slightly echogenic, somewhat fibrillary structure attaching the ulnar styloid process radius to the triquetrum. It is found deep to the overlying extensor carpi ulnaris tendon 2-5.
MRI
The ulnar collateral ligament can be seen on MRI. It can be best appreciated on coronal high resolution or 3D images adjacent to the ulnomeniscal homologue and the extensor ulnaris tendon and has a hypointense appearance 5.
1. Mayfield J, Johnson R, Kilcoyne R. The Ligaments of the Human Wrist and Their Functional Significance. Anat Rec. 1976;186(3):417-28. doi:10.1002/ar.1091860307 - Pubmed
2. Turker T, Department of Orthopaedics, Arizona University School of Medicine, Arizona, United States, Sheppard J et al. The Radial and Ulnar Collateral Ligaments of the Wrist Are True Ligaments. Diagn Interv Radiol. 2019;25(6):473-9. doi:10.5152/dir.2019.19036 - Pubmed
3. Gitto S & Draghi F. Normal Sonographic Anatomy of the Wrist With Emphasis on Assessment of Tendons, Nerves, and Ligaments. J Ultrasound Med. 2016;35(5):1081-94. doi:10.7863/ultra.15.06105 - Pubmed
4. Taljanovic M, Goldberg M, Sheppard J, Rogers L. US of the Intrinsic and Extrinsic Wrist Ligaments and Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex—Normal Anatomy and Imaging Technique. Radiographics. 2011;31(1):79-80. doi:10.1148/rg.e44 - Pubmed
5. Wu W, Chang K, Mezian K et al. Ulnar Wrist Pain Revisited: Ultrasound Diagnosis and Guided Injection for Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex Injuries. JCM. 2019;8(10):1540. doi:10.3390/jcm8101540 - Pubmed
6. von Borstel D, Wang M, Small K, Nozaki T, Yoshioka H. High-Resolution 3T MR Imaging of the Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex. Magn Reson Med Sci. 2017;16(1):3-15. doi:10.2463/mrms.rev.2016-0011 - Pubmed
7. H. Yoshioka, J. Sutherland, W. Wu et al. High-Resolution MR Imaging of the Ulnar and Radial Collateral Ligaments of the Wrist. European Congress of Radiology - ECR 2015. 2015. https://epos.myesr.org/poster/esr/ecr2015/C-0123
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