title: Radiolunate fusion with distraction using corticocancellous bone graft for minimizing decrease of wrist motion in rheumatoid wrists.
abstract: Radiolunate fusion is a limited carpal fusion procedure used for patients with rheumatoid arthritis. However, this procedure inevitably causes decreases in range of motion, especially wrist flexion. Linscheid and Dobyns described the possibility of minimizing the decrease in motion at the radiocarpal joint by slight distraction of the joint. We hypothesized for our modified procedure that a corticocancellous bone graft was inserted between the radius and the lunate with a small amount of over-correction could provide slight distraction of radioscaphoid joint and protect the joint from decreased range of motion after arthrodesis. Twelve wrists in ten patients with rheumatoid arthritis underwent radiolunate fusion. Mean age at operation was 53 years old and mean follow-up period was 5.7 years. Clinical evaluation and radiological assessment showed that decrease in range of motion was minimized compared with other procedures. Because our modified procedure can minimize decrease in motion, it is recommended.
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan. masuko@med.hokudai.ac.jp
authors: Tatsuya
authors: T
authors: Masuko
authors: Norimasa
authors: N
authors: Iwasaki
authors: Jun-Ichi
authors: J
authors: Ishikawa
authors: Hiroyuki
authors: H
authors: Kato
authors: Akio
authors: A
authors: Minami
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D001863:Bone Screws; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D001864:Bone Wires; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012667:Lunate Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D011884:Radius / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014955:Wrist Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*