Rotational behaviour and morphological associations of the CT-based distal ulnar centering and eccentricity (DUCE) method in cadaveric specimens
Abstract
Non-invasive assessment of distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) stability remains challenging because CT-based measurements, such as the radioulnar ratio (RR), depend on forearm rotation and notch anatomy. The CT-based Distal Ulnar Centering and Eccentricity (DUCE) method describes DRUJ articulation relative to individual notch geometry, separating rotational translation into direction and magnitude. Thirty cadaveric upper limbs underwent cone-beam CT in pronation and supination, 11 also in neutral rotation. Centering (ulnar head centre to a notch-derived reference axis) and Eccentricity (to the deepest notch point) were compared with RR. RR varied with rotation (28.7 ± 8.5% vs. 70.8 ± 13.6%; P < 0.001) and with notch morphology (R ² up to 0.31); no such association was detected for DUCE. Signed Centering reversed systematically (+ 3.11 vs. − 3.10 mm; P < 0.001), while its magnitude remained equivalent. Averaged across both end positions, Centering was equivalent to zero (exploratory ± 0.6 mm equivalence margin; TOST P < 0.001), placing the notch-derived axis at the centre of the rotational arc at group level, though not in individual limbs. Eccentricity did not differ with rotation. Interrater reliability was good to excellent. DUCE provides an anatomically referenced description of rotational DRUJ behaviour. Clinical studies must show whether it improves assessment of pathological instability.
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BibTeX
@article{barbari2026rotational,
title = {{Rotational behaviour and morphological associations of the CT-based distal ulnar centering and eccentricity (DUCE) method in cadaveric specimens}},
author = {Jan Siad El Barbari and Florian Kordon and Holger Kunze and Jonas Armbruster and Paul Alfred Grützner and Sven Yves Vetter and Marc Schnetzke and Benedict James Swartman},
journal = {Scientific Reports},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1038/s41598-026-67682-9},
url = {https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-67682-9},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Rotational behaviour and morphological associations of the CT-based distal ulnar centering and eccentricity (DUCE) method in cadaveric specimens
AU - Jan Siad El Barbari
AU - Florian Kordon
AU - Holger Kunze
AU - Jonas Armbruster
AU - Paul Alfred Grützner
AU - Sven Yves Vetter
AU - Marc Schnetzke
AU - Benedict James Swartman
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/28
JO - Scientific Reports
DO - 10.1038/s41598-026-67682-9
UR - https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-67682-9
AB - Non-invasive assessment of distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) stability remains challenging because CT-based measurements, such as the radioulnar ratio (RR), depend on forearm rotation and notch anatomy. The CT-based Distal Ulnar Centering and Eccentricity (DUCE) method describes DRUJ articulation relative to individual notch geometry, separating rotational translation into direction and magnitude. Thirty cadaveric upper limbs underwent cone-beam CT in pronation and supination, 11 also in neutral rotation. Centering (ulnar head centre to a notch-derived reference axis) and Eccentricity (to the deepest notch point) were compared with RR. RR varied with rotation (28.7 ± 8.5% vs. 70.8 ± 13.6%; P < 0.001) and with notch morphology (R ² up to 0.31); no such association was detected for DUCE. Signed Centering reversed systematically (+ 3.11 vs. − 3.10 mm; P < 0.001), while its magnitude remained equivalent. Averaged across both end positions, Centering was equivalent to zero (exploratory ± 0.6 mm equivalence margin; TOST P < 0.001), placing the notch-derived axis at the centre of the rotational arc at group level, though not in individual limbs. Eccentricity did not differ with rotation. Interrater reliability was good to excellent. DUCE provides an anatomically referenced description of rotational DRUJ behaviour. Clinical studies must show whether it improves assessment of pathological instability.
SN - 2045-2322
ER -