Elhassan, Bassem T.

We report the outcomes of ulnar head replacement with concomitant resurfacing of the sigmoid notch with a lateral meniscal allograft that attempted to recreate the palmar and dorsal radioulnar ligaments in four patients. Patients’ ranges of motion, grip strength, postoperative complications and radiographs were assessed. The mean follow-up was 20 (range 12–28) months. There was an increase in postoperative range of motion with an average increase in grip strength of 43% to the unaffected extremity. All patients experienced marked reduction in their postoperative pain. No patients reported symptoms of implant instability. Distal ulna implant arthroplasty with a lateral meniscal allograft gives favourable short-term outcomes. Level of evidence: IV

Background: Distal radius malunions lead to functional deficits. This study compares isolated ulnar shortening osteotomy (USO) to distal radius osteotomy (DRO) for the treatment of ulnar impaction syndrome following distal radius malunion. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 11 patients with extra-articular distal radius malunions treated for ulnar impaction with isolated USO. This group was compared to a 1:1 age- and sex-matched cohort treated with isolated DRO for the same indication. Pain visual analog scale (VAS), wrist motion, grip strength, radiographic parameters, and perioperative complications were analyzed. Mean follow-up was 14.8 months. Results: VAS scores improved. Wrist range of motion improved in both cohorts with the exception of radial deviation, pronation, and supination in the USO cohort, which decreased from a mean of 17°-16°, 67°-57°, and 54°-52°, respectively. There was no significant difference between groups in regard to change in pain or range of motion, with the exception of pronation and ulnar deviation. The mean tourniquet time was shorter in the USO group. The final ulnar variance was 1.8 mm negative in the USO group and 1.1 mm positive in the DRO group. There was 1 reoperation following USO for painful nonunion, while there were 2 reoperations following DRO for persistent ulnar impaction. Conclusions: An improvement in range of motion, grip strength, and VAS with restoration of the radioulnar length relationship was observed in both cohorts. USO is a simpler procedure with a shorter tourniquet time that can be an attractive alternative to DRO for ulnar impaction syndrome after distal radius malunions.

Background: Fractures of the proximal pole of the scaphoid can be difficult to heal because of its limited vascular supply. Furthermore, nonunion with avascular necrosis and secondary fragmentation makes surgical reconstruction a challenging procedure. Method: We describe a technique and report the outcome of a proximal hamate autograft to treat a proximal pole scaphoid nonunion with avascular necrosis. Results: At 3.5 years post reconstruction, the patient remains asymptomatic with union of his scaphoid reconstruction without any evidence of scapholunate instability. Conclusion: Proximal hamate autograft is a useful technique for addressing proximal pole scaphoid nonunions with avascular necrosis.

We conducted a review of 144 consecutive patients who underwent proximal row carpectomy from 1967 to 2010 for the diagnosis of wrist arthritis. At a mean follow-up of 13.4 years, patients experienced good pain relief with preservation (but not improvement) of wrist motion. A total of 17 patients (12%) required revision surgery at an average of 44.6 months. Improved pain, function, and survival outcomes were seen in those who underwent proximal row carpectomy after the age of 40, had a preoperative diagnosis of Kienbock’s disease, who underwent a concomitant neurectomy procedure, patients who were non-labourers, and patients who underwent surgery after 1990. Although 45% of patients developed moderate to severe radiocapitate arthrosis postoperatively, these findings did not correlate with clinical outcomes or risk of revision surgery. Patients with type II lunate and type II and III capitate shapes had higher rates of postoperative radiocapitate arthrosis. Level of Evidence: III, Prognostic

Background Radiocarpal dislocations are rare, high-energy injuries. High morbidity and poor functional outcomes are common. Currently, there is limited data on functional outcomes following treatment of this injury. Methods A retrospective review was conducted analyzing the radiographic and clinical outcome of patients treated for a radiocarpal dislocation from 1979 to 2010. Outcome assessments included wrist range of motion, grip strength, Mayo wrist score, patient-rated wrist evaluation (PRWE), and disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) score. Statistical analysis was performed with the Student's t test. Results Twenty-six patients (26 wrists) were treated for a radiocarpal dislocation during the study period; 23 wrists were treated acutely (within 4 weeks of injury), and 3 were treated after a delayed presentation (>4 weeks). Clinical follow-up of more than 6 months was available in 17 patients. Three patients (12 %) underwent primary fusion as initial treatment (two radioscapholunate fusion; one total wrist fusion). Four wrists (24 %) failed initial treatment and were salvaged with scapholunate ligament reconstruction (one wrist) or partial wrist fusion (three wrists). Seventeen patients completed PRWE and DASH questionnaires with a mean of 14.6 years following surgery (range 2–32 years). Subjective outcomes tended to be superior in those patients treated with ligament reconstruction versus partial or complete wrist fusion; however, comparisons were not statistically significant. Conclusion Radiocarpal dislocations result in significant osseous and ligamentous injury to the distal radius and carpus. Early recognition and treatment of radiocarpal dislocations with open reduction, internal fixation, and repair of ligaments may result in improved long-term functional outcomes when compared to acute partial or complete wrist arthrodesis.