Madelung's Deformity

Madelung’s Deformity is a deformity of the wrist where part of the distal radius does not develop properly leading to subluxation (partial dislocation) of the wrist bones between the radius and ulna. The distal joint between the radius and ulna is dislocated leading to a prominent bump from the head of the ulna.  Many cases are hereditary, but some are related to mesomelic dysplasia. We treat this by opening the wrist joint from the palm side and performing a complicated intra-articular osteotomy (bone cutting inside the joint) to elevate the depressed part of the radius and reduce the wrist bones into a joint, combined with a second osteotomy to realign the lower radius and fix it with a metal plate. We combine the osteotomies with reduction and ligamentous reconstruction of the distal radio-ulnar joint.