Has anyone ever had DRUJ Ligament Reconstruction????

[Mallet]

I broke my wrist/forearm in a snowboarding accident last January, and had surgery to insert a plate and 15 screws to repair the radius fracture (see my avitar). I also broke the tip of the ulna off completely know as an ulna styloid fracture. After casting and lots of therapy, I started playing golf again around the end of May. All-in-all, it was a good season for me. Besides some stiffness when its cold, and some lingering pain, I became a much better ball striker over this period, and ended the season around a 8 handicap.

After playing in a tournament in Doral in September, I noticed pain on the ulna side of my arm, that was more intense than normal, and a "clicking" or "popping" sound had developed. a few weeks later, both intensified, and I noticed that the ulna bone itself appeared to be moving when stressed. In fact, with minor pressure, I can cause the ulna to deviate 3-4 inches from where it normally rests.

My surgeon confirmed today that I have whats called Distal Radioulnar Joint Instability or DRUJ. It happens often in conjunction with a distal radius or ulna styloid fracture. The worse part about it is the operative procedure to correct this is called DRUJ Ligament Reconstruction, and it's extremely complicated with lengthy recovery process. The procedure entails removal and replacement of the current palte and screws, using the palmaris longus muscle as a donor tendon, and then a complicated series of weaves and ties to secure the joint (see the attached illustration). When the sutures are removed approx 10 days post-op, you're placed in a long arm cast for 6 weeks, a short arm cast for another 6 weeks, then a removable splint for another 3-4 months. Rehab can begin around month 3, with no strenuos activity for 6 months. And after all of that, I'm told that there is no guarantee that the instability won't return at some point. The bottom line is.....much like Tiger.....I'm f__ked! Except without the billion dollars in the bank.

I'm just wondering if anyone has experienced this issue, had the procedure, or knows of someone that has. Any advice or input would be greatly appreciated.

[Mallet]

No replies......this is the very reason I am so concerned about having this surgery!

[uttexas]

Is your orthopedic surgeon a Board Certified upper extremity/hand specialist?

I haven't had this surgery, but know people that have had it.

My only advise is to make sure to get an opinion from a Board Certified upper extremity/hand ortho surgeon if your original surgeon is not board certified in this sub-specialization. Hand/wrist injuries need to be taken seriously.
You are doing the right thing by trying to find others that have had the surgery.

[upah]

If nothing else, you and I can snowboard together.

 

[Mallet]

Is your orthopedic surgeon a Board Certified upper extremity/hand specialist?

Yeah, I'm lucky. My guy is the head of the hand specialty clinic at Univ of Mich. He basically wrote the book on hand surgery, and he's an athlete to boot.

[Mallet]

If nothing else, you and I can snowboard together.

That was too funny! Thanks, but I'll pass!!!!!

[lyneecero]

Hi,

I know it's been a long time since your last post but Im hoping you will see this message.  I have the same exact fracture as you did, I shattered my wrist bones while rollerblading.  I've undergone 2 surgeries already to try and fix this, the first time they put a plate and screws in but on the left side of my wrist I developed a popping in and out of place.  They did another surgery and pinned that bone and then took the pins out 6 weeks later and that same popping and instability came right back.  I can actually move the bone around push it up and down.  The surgeon said the only thing left to do is this ligmant repair.  I was wondering if you ended up having the procedure done and if you did how did it turn out?

[MEfree]

I haven`t had this procedure, but have had 2 ACL recons and was casted for 12 weeks when I ruptured my achilles.  The achilles healed nicely, but when you can`t rehab for 3 months, there is sure to be scar tissue that develops which will be hard/impossible to break down- ask your doctor about this so you will at least know what to expect.

I`d recommend getting several opinions and see what your options are.

[wristmasterhand]

I perform this surgery and for those who need it is highly successful. Think of it like an ACL reconstruction of for cutting sports athletes or the tommy John procedure for throwing athletes. Most get back to. Previous level of play one year later Three important points. First be sure your surgeon has done at least five of these. Secondly. You will need to allow a full year to recover before you are competitive finally based on your story without the operation you will get worse Sincerely Darryl peterson

[tendongraft]

Hi!

Not sure if someone will read this but I will share my story because it is rare to have this surgery. I recently had this procedure done because of a torn ligament and TFCC tear that was misdiagnosed and mistreated for 6 months. My ulnar was literally sticking out and you can see my whole bone. I got the autograph reconstruction done in April 2015 it is now August 2015 and I haven't really made any progress in physical therapy. I can't twist my wrist at all and I really want to wear my brace but that will work against my progress. I am nervous everyday that I may re-injure my repair. My surgeon tied the tendon really tight but I have a long way to recovery...smh...but to be honest this is better than the pain dealing with a dislocated wrist. My wrist only hurts when I use it too much because it is still sensitive. If you get the surgery done just be prepared to be uncomfortable for the next year. I have had my injury since November 2014 but surgery in April. The surgery itself isn't bad but the recovery is long and drawn out. Hope this help someone.

[Lynn]

Hi. I'm not a golfer, but stumbled upon this forum while searching for DRUJ ligament reconstruction surgery, which I'm afraid I have to have following a bike accident. TendonGraft: I know you posted a long time ago and I don't know if you'll see this. Did things get better? Has anyone had this surgery in MI? I saw a reference in a previous post to MI, but it was quite old. That's where I live. Thanks.

[Roni441]

Hi,

i'm not a golfer but like most I'm having DRUJ ligament reconstruction surgery in one week and was looking for a follow up from anyone who has undergone the surgery and is now in the recovery phase and how it is going.  This will be the second surgery on my wrist within 6 months, the first was to repair the TFCC.  Thank you :) 

 

[cipher]

45 minutes ago, Roni441 said:

Hi,

i'm not a golfer but like most I'm having DRUJ ligament reconstruction surgery in one week and was looking for a follow up from anyone who has undergone the surgery and is now in the recovery phase and how it is going.  This will be the second surgery on my wrist within 6 months, the first was to repair the TFCC.  Thank you :) 

 

I had TFCC and ECU ligament wrist surgery in February of 2016.  I injured my wrist playing golf and I just started playing again.  It took me about 6 months for the wrist to feel decent and a full year to play again.  I have a blog that I wrote on the site about it as well.

 

[Roni441]

Cipher,

Thank you for responding, everything that I have read states about a year recovery.  Plan on reading your blog. 

 

[Lynn]

Hi. I had this surgery in February and am very glad I did so. My doctor was able to repair my ligament, rather than using a cadaver tendon in its place. After two months of 2/weekly OT, all of my range-of-motion measurements were normal, except for pronation (which is pretty close). I'm now back to biking, kayaking and paddle-boarding, and have no problems with any day-to-day activities. I do feel some pain and tightness after certain activities (like today, when I kayaked for 1.5 hours in the wind), cannot lift anything really heavy with that hand and cannot do everything in yoga that I used to. But, overall, I had a very positive experience...and hope you do, too!

[Buckeyebowman]

I really don't understand why people, who have had serious physical injuries, have any hope of returning to 100%!

I had an ACL reconstruction done soon after the technique was developed. This was after I had ripped my knee up three times!

To this day, the knee functions at what I figure to be about 85%! As far as I'm concerned, that's dynamite!

I could have wound up like my Grandma, who had her milk cow kick her knee out from under her in her 70's, and before the ACL reconstruction technique was developed!

She was crippled up for the rest of her life!

COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS, PEOPLE!!!!

[iacas]

1 hour ago, Buckeyebowman said:

I really don't understand why people, who have had serious physical injuries, have any hope of returning to 100%!

…

COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS, PEOPLE!!!!

Uhhh, okay.

[boogielicious]

9 hours ago, Buckeyebowman said:

I really don't understand why people, who have had serious physical injuries, have any hope of returning to 100%!

I had an ACL reconstruction done soon after the technique was developed. This was after I had ripped my knee up three times!

To this day, the knee functions at what I figure to be about 85%! As far as I'm concerned, that's dynamite!

I could have wound up like my Grandma, who had her milk cow kick her knee out from under her in her 70's, and before the ACL reconstruction technique was developed!

She was crippled up for the rest of her life!

COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS, PEOPLE!!!!

I guess my responds is, "if professional athletes can return to 100% after serious injury with medical care and training, why shouldn't we expect the same recovery."