Ulnar deviation

Hand affected by Ulnar deviation

Ulnar deviation, also known as ulnar drift, is a hand deformity in which the swelling of the metacarpophalangeal joints (the big knuckles at the base of the fingers) causes the fingers to become displaced, tending towards the little finger. ^[1] Its name comes from the displacement toward the ulna (as opposed to radial deviation, in which fingers are displaced toward the radius). Ulnar deviation is likely to be a characteristic of rheumatoid arthritis, ^[2] more than of osteoarthritis. Consideration should also be given to pigmented villonodular synovitis, in the setting of ulnar deviation and metacarpophalangeal synovitis. ^{[ citation needed ]}

Ulnar deviation is also a physiological movement of the wrist, where the hand including the fingers move towards the ulna. Ulnar deviation is a disorder in which flexion by ulnar nerve innervated muscles is intact while flexion on the median nerve side is not.^{[ citation needed ]}

References

1. Strike, Sophia A.; LaPorte, Dawn M. (2017-01-01), Frank, Rachel M.; Forsythe, Brian; Provencher, Matthew T. (eds.), "Chapter 14 - Closed Reduction Forearm and Wrist (Adult)" , Case Competencies in Orthopaedic Surgery, Elsevier, pp. 131–137, doi:10.1016/b978-0-323-39038-5.00014-7, ISBN   978-0-323-39038-5 , retrieved 2024-02-02
2. Biese, JEANINE (2007-01-01), Cooper, Cynthia (ed.), "Chapter 17 - Arthritis" , Fundamentals of Hand Therapy, Saint Louis: Mosby, pp. 348–375, doi:10.1016/b0-32-303386-5/50020-5, ISBN   978-0-323-03386-2 , retrieved 2024-02-02