Wrist arthrodesis in rheumatoid arthritis. A comparison of two methods of fusion.
17 wrists were arthrodesed in 13 patients with severe wrist disease due to rheumatoid arthritis. Eight fusions in seven patients were carried out using a radial sliding bone graft technique whilst nine fusions in nine patients were undertaken using a third tubular AO plate. Subjective, objective and radiological assessments confirmed the efficacy of both methods but indicated a shorter period of post-operative immobilization for patients treated using the AO plate fixation technique. The importance of this is discussed.
Howard
A C
AC
Department of Orthopaedics, Northern General Hospital, Sheffield, UK.
Stanley
D
D
Getty
C J
CJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000601:surgery*; D001174:Arthrodesis / Q000379:methods*; D001860:Bone Plates; D001863:Bone Screws; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011884:Radius / Q000637:transplantation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014955:Wrist Joint / Q000601:surgery*