title: [Clinical functional assessment of various surgical hand arthrodesis techniques].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Total and partial arthrodesis of the wrist are currently sophisticated treatment options for many advanced pathological changes of the wrist. This retrospective study analyzed the subjective and objective outcome of different wrist arthrodesis techniques, e.g. total wrist arthrodesis, scaphotrapeziotrapezoid (STT) bone fusion and midcarpal arthrodesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjective physical and mental quality of life of 98 patients (total wrist arthrodesis n = 43, STT fusion n = 30 and midcarpal arthrodesis n = 25) was measured using the DASH questionnaire. The range of motion and grip strength were analyzed in 48 patients (total wrist arthrodesis n = 21, STT fusion n = 17 and midcarpal arthrodesis n = 10).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with partial wrist arthrodesis achieved a significantly better DASH score than patients with total wrist arthrodesis. Grip strength did not show any statistically significant differences between the two groups. Patients with STT fusion showed the best range of motion of the wrist.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Partial arthrodesis seems to be superior to total wrist arthrodesis. Patients profit from a higher physical and mental quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Plastische, Hand-, Rekonstruktive und Verbrennungschirurgie, Berufsgenossenschaftliche Unfallklinik, Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen, Schnarrenbergstr. 95, 72076, Tübingen, Deutschland, pgonser@bgu-tuebingen.de.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gonser
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Greiner
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nusche
authors.forename: H-E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Schaller
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jaminet
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001174:Arthrodesis / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014955:Wrist Joint / Q000601:surgery*