Ulnar Sided Wrist Pain

Diagram of wrist bones and joint anatomy
Wrist bones and joint
X-ray showing ulnar impaction with an ulna longer than the radius
Ulnar impaction, an ulna longer than the radius

Pain on the pinkie, or ulnar, side of the wrist is common and can come from injury to bones, cartilage, ligaments, or tendons.

The term wrist describes the joint where the hand connects to the forearm. The anatomy of the wrist is complex. Eight smaller bones connect the five main hand bones, called metacarpals, to the two forearm bones, the radius and ulna.

Causes

Because there are many parts on the pinkie side of the wrist, determining the cause of ulnar-sided wrist pain can be difficult. Your hand doctor will examine where the pain is located and how the wrist moves. X-rays may be taken, and sometimes CT or MRI studies may be needed.

Some causes of ulnar-sided wrist pain include:

  • Wrist fractures
  • Arthritis of the joints between bones
  • Ulnar impaction syndrome, when the ulna is longer than the radius and can bump into the smaller wrist bones
  • Inflammation or irritation of the tendons that bend and extend the wrist
  • Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex Injury, or TFCC, when the connection between the ulna bone and other wrist structures is torn by an injury or frayed over time
  • Nerve injury or compression
  • Masses, most commonly ganglion cysts, which are benign

Signs and Symptoms

Pain can be felt at rest or with motion. Symptoms can include:

  • Pain on the pinkie side of the wrist with movement
  • Clicking or popping, especially with rotation
  • Decreased grip strength
  • Decreased or limited motion

Treatment

Treatment for ulnar-sided wrist pain depends on the diagnosis. It can include some combination of activity modification, splinting or casting, hand therapy, anti-inflammatory medicine, and/or steroid injections. If non-operative treatment does not relieve symptoms, surgery might be considered.

This mobile-friendly version is adapted from patient education content originally provided by the American Society for Surgery of the Hand.