title: Clinical and radiographic study of partial arthrodesis for rheumatoid wrists.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To retrospectively investigate the clinical and radiographic results of partial arthrodesis for the wrists with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-one wrists with RA were treated by radiolunate (RL) or radiolunotriquetral (RLT) arthrodesis with ulnar head resection. The average follow-up period after surgery was 7.1 years. Preoperative radiographs of all wrists were classified according to Schulthess classification. We performed RL arthrodesis for all Type II (n = 26) and Type III wrists (n = 7), and RLT arthrodesis for Type III wrists (n = 8). Pre- and postoperative pain score (visual analog scale), grip strength, range of motion, and radiographic parameters were statistically compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pain scores in all groups were significantly improved at final follow-up (P < 0.05). Grip strength increased from 5.9 to 12.4 (kg) significantly in Type II wrists (P < 0.01), from 7.2 to 9.1 in Type III wrists after RLT arthrodesis, but decreased from 6.9 to 6.0 in Type III wrists after RL arthrodesis. In all groups, the arc of pronation and supination improved significantly (P < 0.05), and all radiographic parameters improved.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RL arthrodesis for Type II wrists showed satisfactory clinical results. RLT arthrodesis would be a reliable method in case of unstable wrist joint.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Orthopaedic Surgery , Ako Central Hospital , Hyogo , Japan.
authors.forename: Taichi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.affiliation: b Department of Human Morphology , Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Density and Pharmaceutical Sciences , Okayama , Japan.
authors.forename: Keiichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nishida
authors.affiliation: c Department of Orthopaedic Surgery , Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Density and Pharmaceutical Sciences , Okayama , Japan.
authors.forename: Kenzo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hashizume
authors.affiliation: c Department of Orthopaedic Surgery , Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Density and Pharmaceutical Sciences , Okayama , Japan.
authors.forename: Ryuichi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nakahara
authors.affiliation: c Department of Orthopaedic Surgery , Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Density and Pharmaceutical Sciences , Okayama , Japan.
authors.forename: Ryozo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Harada
authors.affiliation: c Department of Orthopaedic Surgery , Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Density and Pharmaceutical Sciences , Okayama , Japan.
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Machida
authors.affiliation: c Department of Orthopaedic Surgery , Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Density and Pharmaceutical Sciences , Okayama , Japan.
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Horita
authors.affiliation: c Department of Orthopaedic Surgery , Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Density and Pharmaceutical Sciences , Okayama , Japan.
authors.forename: Toshifumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ozaki
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D001174:Arthrodesis / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014953:Wrist / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D014955:Wrist Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery
keywords: Arthrodesis; Rheumatoid arthritis; Wrist joint