The congruence of the distal radioulnar joint

Abstract

The functional anatomy of the distal radioulnar joint was studied in 10 healthy volunteers. The joint surfaces of both the ulnar head and the sigmoid notch of the radius form arcs of circles with small areas of contact because the diameters of the circles are different. The distal radioulnar joint is congruent throughout its range of motion, but the area of contact shifts from dorsal in the sigmoid notch in pronation to volar in supination. The insertion of the distal radioulnar ligaments on the ulnar head explains the congruence of the joint.