title: Long-term results of forearm shortening and volar radiocarpal capsulotomy for wrist flexion deformity in children with amyoplasia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To perform a long-term review of results of forearm shortening osteotomies, tenotomy, and volar wrist capsulotomy for treatment of typical wrist flexion deformities in children with the amyoplasia form of arthrogryposis, a procedure originally reported and described as "most rewarding" by Lexington Shriners Hospital for Children in 1965.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review of operating room and clinic records was done. An attempt to contact all patients produced 1 current follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine extremities in 6 patients had undergone the procedure. Of the 9 extremities, 3 subsequently underwent salvage procedures, 2 had salvage procedures recommended, and 1 had a distal forearm fracture angular malunion that compensated for the wrist flexion contracture. The charts for the patients with the 3 remaining extremities showed that at 3-year follow-up, the wrist flexion contractures had recurred.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Long-term follow-up of the procedure shows that the initial improvement in wrist position is not maintained. This procedure is not recommended for correction of the wrist deformity in amyoplasia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Therapeutic IV.
authors.affiliation: Shriners Hospitals for Children, Lexington, KY, USA. rcburgat@aol.com
authors.forename: Ronald C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Burgess
authors.forename: Rudy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Robbe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001176:Arthrogryposis / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D003286:Contracture / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D017746:Joint Capsule / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D010027:Osteotomy; D053401:Palmar Plate / Q000601:surgery; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D058971:Tenotomy; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014457:Ulna / Q000601:surgery*; D014955:Wrist Joint / Q000601:surgery*