Ulnar-Sided Wrist Pain: Systematic Clinical Approach and Principles of Treatment

Oryza Satria,1 Dina Aprilya,1 Seti Aji Hadinoto2 1Department of Orthopaedic and Traumatology, Fatmawati General Hospital – Faculty of Medicine Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia; 2Department of Orthopaedic and Traumatology, Prof. Dr. Soeharso Orthopaedic Hospital, Solo, Indonesia, Faculty of Medicine – Sebelas Maret University, Surakarta, IndonesiaCorrespondence: Dina Aprilya, Department of Orthopaedic and Traumatology, Fatmawati General Hospital – Faculty of Medicine Universitas Indonesia, Prof. Soelarto Building, 1st floor, RS Fatmawati Street, Jakarta, 12430, Indonesia, Email [email protected]: The source of ulnar-sided wrist pain is difficult to determine because the history and physical examination findings of various illnesses frequently coincide, and are multifactorial. Pain on the ulnar side of the wrist can be identified on the basis of the tissue from which it arises. Knowledge of the anatomy of the ulnar side of the wrist is required for correct diagnosis, as in numerous diagnostic tests. Given the complex nature of disease diagnosis, various methods have been proposed. This article discusses systematic methods for obtaining a patient’s medical history, physical examination, and treatment principles to assist surgeons in determining the source of common ulnar-sided wrist pain.Level of Evidence: DPlain Language Summary: Multiple conditions can cause ulnar-sided wrist pain. To diagnose and treat the ulnar aspect of the wrist, it is important to understand its anatomy and diseases.Pain on the ulnar side of the wrist can generally be characterized by the tissue from which it originates.Thorough physical examination and imaging can narrow the differential diagnosis and may be valuable for confirming the diagnosis.Nonsurgical treatment includes immobilization, therapy, and corticosteroid injections, while surgical intervention is determined by an individual diagnosis.Keywords: wrist pain, triangular fibrocartilage, distal radio-ulnar, physical examination, diagnostic tests