Four radiographic measurements of the distal radius (ulnar tilt, lunate subsidence, lunate fossa angle, and palmar carpal displacement) were obtained on 48 wrists with Madelung’s deformity and 48 normal wrists. There was overlap in the range of measurements between these 2 groups. However, the lunate fossa angle demonstrated the least overlap with an angle greater than 29 degrees in 96% of Madelung’s cases and in 0% of normal wrists.
In a previous report, McCarroll and co-authors showed that the 4 radiographic measurements reliably and reproducibly quantified the severity of Madelung’s deformity (JHS Am 2005). Their subsequent study supports the use of the lunate fossa angle in the early identification of Madelung’s deformity. This paper nicely reviews the radiographic characteristics of this condition.