Stabilization of the proximal ulnar stump in the Sauvé-Kapandji procedure by using the extensor carpi ulnaris tendon: long-term follow-up studies.
OBJECTIVE
The Sauvé-Kapandji procedure is considered a useful treatment option for distal radioulnar disorders. Postoperative instability of the proximal ulnar stump and radioulnar convergence, however, may be symptomatic. We modified the Sauvé-Kapandji procedure by stabilizing the proximal ulnar stump with a half-slip of the extensor carpi ulnaris tendon. We previously reported on 13 patients with this procedure at an average follow-up period of 35 months; the patients had satisfactory clinical results and improved stability of the proximal ulnar stump as shown by x-ray examination. In this article we address the question of whether those clinical and radiographic results noted at an average follow-up period of 35 months after surgery were maintained at later follow-up examinations.


METHODS
We re-examined 12 of the 13 original patients and compared their initial follow-up results with their current results after an average follow-up period of 95 months.


RESULTS
The results of this series after 95 months of follow-up evaluation were similar to the results at 35 months.


CONCLUSIONS
The results presented in this article suggest that the clinical radiographic results at the 35-month follow-up examination were maintained in the long-term 95-month follow-up evaluation despite the finding that the hole in the proximal ulnar stump had broken in 3 wrists at follow-up examination.


METHODS
Therapeutic, Level IV.
Minami
Akio
A
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Nishi-7-chome, Sapporo, Japan. a-minami@med.hokudai.ac.jp
Iwasaki
Norimasa
N
Ishikawa
Jun-Ichi
J
Suenaga
Naoki
N
Kato
Hiroyuki
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D013709:Tendon Transfer / Q000379:methods*; D013710:Tendons / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D014457:Ulna / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014955:Wrist Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*