Modular Ulnar Head Decoupling Force: Case Report

Cobalt-chrome modular distal ulnar head replacement arthroplasty is a surgical option to restore stability to the distal radioulnar joint rendered unstable by hemi-resection arthroplasty or a total resection arthroplasty. However, the revision of dislocated modular cobalt-chrome ulnar head implants may pose an important intraoperative challenge. The Morse-taper disassembly force of modular ulnar head implants is not available in the current published literature. We present a case in which tremendous difficulty was encountered while revising a dislocated modular cobalt-chrome distal ulnar head implant. The mean Morse-taper disassembly force of the retrieved modular cobalt-chrome implant was 2958 N ± 1272. At nearly 4.5 times the average body weight, the modular ulnar head Morse-taper disassembly strength presented a formidable force to overcome intraoperatively.