title: Comparison of the Sauvé-Kapandji procedure and the Darrach procedure for the treatment of rheumatoid wrists.
abstract: Abstract In surgical treatment of the rheumatoid wrist, the Darrach procedure combined with synovectomy has been the treatment of choice in the past. However, owing to the significant ulnar carpal shift observed after the Darrach procedure, the Sauvé-Kapandji (S-K) procedure has become increasingly popular. The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical results of the S-K and Darrach procedures. Thirty-two wrists in the S-K-procedure group and 31 wrists in Darrach-procedure group were examined. Before and after surgery, clinical evaluations of pain, swelling, range of motion, grip strength, and radiological findings were performed and the results were compared. Both procedures resulted in decreased pain and swelling, as well as improved rotatory motion of the forearm. The S-K procedure was shown to be superior to the Darrach procedure in reducing ulnar carpal migration and improving grip strength. On the other hand, the prevention of carpal bone destruction could not be completely achieved in either procedure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Konan Kakogawa Hospital , 1545-1 Saijo, Kanno-cho, Kakogawa 675-8545 , Japan.
authors.forename: Natsuko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
authors.forename: Shuji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: Shigeaki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Imura
authors.forename: Yasuro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nishibayashi
authors.forename: Sinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yoshiya