title: Radiolunate arthrodesis: A procedure for stabilising and preserving mobility in the arthritic wrist.
abstract: We carried out arthrodesis of the radiolunate joint in 46 wrists (38 patients) for pain and ulnar translation of the carpus because of rheumatoid (42) or psoriatic arthritis (4). At follow-up, three patients had died and in three (1 bilateral) an additional midcarpal arthrodesis had been undertaken. The remaining 32 patients (39 wrists) were evaluated after a mean of five years. The clinical results were good with a mean visual analogue score of 8.3 for pain, 7.2 for hand function and 9 for overall satisfaction. Except for palmar flexion, mobility was equal to or better than before operation. Radiologically, there was deterioration of the midcarpal joint with an increase in the Larsen score from 1.8 to 2.7 (p < 0.001), some decrease in carpal height and recurrence of carpal translation. Radiolunate arthrodesis gives good clinical results at five years although there is some deterioration radiologically.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Slotervaatziekenhuis, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Doets
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Raven
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015535:Arthritis, Psoriatic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D001174:Arthrodesis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D012667:Lunate Bone / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D011884:Radius / Q000601:surgery; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014955:Wrist Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*