Using 3D printed guide plate and regular ulna locking plate to accurately complete the internal fixation of ulna shortening osteotomy for ulnar impaction syndrome

Ulnar shortening osteotomy (USO) is a common surgical procedure for the treatment of ulnar impaction syndrome (UIS). But in some hospital, they don’t have the special plate for USO, or the patients don’t want the the special plate because the high price. The freehand technique to USO is not accurate, so we use 3D printed guide plate to assist ordinary ulna locking plate to accurately complete the USO and fixation.

A retrospective chart review of 18 patients was performed 3D printed guide plate to assist ordinary ulna locking plate to accurately complete the USO and fixation. Primary outcomes of interest were subjective, measured using the Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE) score, Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score, and the third questionnaire about patient satisfaction, composed by the authors. Secondary outcomes included hardware removal due to irritation and other complications.

Mean postoperative functional score of PRWE was 26 (standard deviation [SD], 30) and DASH 21 (SD, 26), respectively. Fifteen patients were satisfied with the operation. Removal of hardware was noted in six patients. no patient plate breakage occurred. The patients union rate is 100%.

This procedure has advantages especially in precise shortening. The angle of osteotomy is also more precise, and correspondingly osteotomy area has more contact, theoretically reducing the nonunion rate. This procedure should be taken into consideration as one of the options to treat ulnar impaction syndrome. Especialyn for the hospitals that don't have the the special plate for USO.

Keywords: Ulnar shortening osteotomy ; ulnar impaction syndrome