{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,22]],"date-time":"2026-03-22T11:42:21Z","timestamp":1774179741252,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":33,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"20","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,10,17]],"date-time":"2023-10-17T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1697500800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100004156","name":"Mahidol University","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","award":["N42A650365"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["N42A650365"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100004156","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"crossref"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.mdpi.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["JCM"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The standard treatment for distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) instability involves repairing the triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) and immobilizing the joint with a sugar tong slab, but this can cause elbow stiffness. To address this, a modified ulnar gutter slab was designed to enhance elbow mobility during immobilization. A prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted on 23 DRUJ instability patients who underwent arthroscopic TFCC repair. Two post-operative splinting techniques were compared: the modified ulnar gutter slab and the sugar tong slab. The assessment included the Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score; elbow, forearm, and wrist range of motion (ROM); post-operative DRUJ stability; and complications. DASH scores at 4 and 6 weeks were not significantly different. However, the modified ulnar gutter slab improved elbow extension range of motion at 4 weeks (extension lag: 20.0 vs. 6.5 in the sugar tong group) (p = 0.011). Post-operative DRUJ stability was comparable between the two groups. Notably, one patient in the sugar tong slab group experienced complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). The modified ulnar gutter slab offers a post-operative alternative after TFCC repair. It effectively immobilizes forearm and wrist motion while enhancing elbow mobility, potentially reducing post-operative elbow stiffness.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm12206574","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,10,17]],"date-time":"2023-10-17T08:25:09Z","timestamp":1697531109000},"page":"6574","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":6,"title":["Comparative Analysis of Treatment Outcomes: Modified Ulnar Gutter Slab vs. Sugar Tong Slab for Distal Radioulnar Joint Instability Following Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex Repair"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"12","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9366-8039","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Tulyapruek","family":"Tawonsawatruk","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Orthopaedics, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Pheeraphat","family":"Phoophiboon","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Orthopaedics, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Thepparat","family":"Kanchanathepsak","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Orthopaedics, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Panithan","family":"Tuntiyatorn","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Chakri Naruebodindra Medical Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Samut Prakan 10540, Thailand"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,10,17]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"123","DOI":"10.1055\/s-0041-1730886","article-title":"Distal Radioulnar Joint Instability and Associated Injuries: A Literature Review","volume":"13","author":"Qazi","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. 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