Midsectional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Analysis of the Sigmoid Notch of the Distal Radioulnar Joint

Purpose This study describes the anatomy and analyzes the variations of the midsectional morphology of the sigmoid notch. Methods The wrists of 50 patients with suspected scaphoid fracture were evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Sigmoid notch length, volar and dorsal rim heights, insertion length of the volar radioulnar ligament, and Tolat morphology classification were measured on T1-weighted axial plane MRI. Ulnar variance and distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) inclination were assessed on anteroposterior radiographs. Results The most common sigmoid notch shapes were types C (C-shaped, 60%) and B (ski-slope, 30%), followed by types D (S-shaped, 6%) and A (flat, 4%). Types A and B had a flat dorsal rim (mean 0.77 +/- 1.09 mm, range 0.0-1.54 mm, and mean 0.22 +/- 0.3 mm, range 0.0-0.76 mm, respectively). Types C and D had more prominent dorsal rims (means 1.47 +/- 0.59 mm, range 0.66-2.57 mm, and mean 1.6 +/- 0.97 mm, range 0.8-2.68 mm, respectively). The average volar lip length was 1.60 +/- 1.11 mm (range, 0.0-4.10). The dorsovolar length of the radius was 18.4 +/- 2.01 mm; the length of the sigmoid notch was 14.3 +/- 1.73 mm. The type of sigmoid notch according to Tolat was significantly associated with volar lip length ( p = 0.005). The type of sigmoid notch was not associated with ulnar variance or DRUJ inclination. The length of the sigmoid notch was significantly associated with the type of sigmoid notch ( p = 0.005). The analysis demonstrated a negative association between the sigmoid notch length and the volar insertion of the radioulnar ligament ( p = 0.019). Conclusions The transversal morphology of the sigmoid notch was either flat with the least congruence (similar to type A of Tolat), with volar congruence only (similar to type B), or with volar and dorsal congruence (similar to types C and D). A shorter sigmoid notch may be compensated by a broader insertion of the volar radioulnar ligament.