title: Complications of 50 consecutive limited wrist fusions by a single surgeon.
abstract: Fifty limited wrist fusions were performed in 47 patients including 24 scaphoid-trapezium-trapezoid, 12 capitate-lunate-triquetrum-hamate, and 13 other limited wrist fusion combinations. Fusions were performed most commonly for rotary subluxation of the scaphoid and follow-up averaged 13.6 months for the chart review and 44 months for the questionnaire. There were 10 major complications in 8 patients, most of which required secondary surgery. There were 3 partial nonunions but no complete nonunions. Two patients later underwent a total wrist fusion. There were 15 minor complications in 10 patients, most of which were managed nonoperatively. A questionnaire was returned on 28 of the 50 fusions. Pain levels decreased from a preoperative level of 8.2 to a postoperative level of 3.0 (scale of 1-10 with 10 being most severe pain ever). All but 3 patients would have the fusion again.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield 62702-9230, USA.
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Erdmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001174:Arthrodesis / Q000379:methods*; D002348:Carpal Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005599:Fractures, Ununited / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D012086:Reoperation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014954:Wrist Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*