Silicone rubber implants for arthrosis of the scaphotrapezial joint.

Between 1980 and 1983, 10 patients received high performance silicone rubber condylar implants for the treatment of isolated degenerative changes of the scaphotrapezial joint. Early clinical and radiographic results (at a mean of 15 months) were excellent. Late follow up of these 10 together with a further 11 patients, however, showed migration of the implant and radiological signs of silicone particle synovitis in all but two. We no longer recommend this operation for treatment of isolated arthrosis of the scaphotrapezial joint.     

Arthroscopic resection of wrist ganglia.

The arthroscopic resection of synovial cysts of the wrist is a simple technique which is comfortable for the patient. We report on a series of 96 patients with dorsal synovial cysts (75 women, 21 men). All patients had undergone preliminary treatment which had been unsuccessful. We operated on 32 patients with a volar cyst (27 women, five men). All the patients were operated on as outpatients under local regional anaesthesia. For the dorsal cysts, after having precisely located the cyst, it is then resected after having inserted a shaver directly through the wall of the cyst starting with the capsule. For the volar cysts the arthroscope was inserted through a 3-4 portal and the shaver was inserted through a 1-2 radiocarpal portal. In all cases, there was no immobilisation and a range of motion was started the same day. For the dorsal cysts, our average follow-up was 34 months (range 12-46 months). There were no complications. We had four recurrences. For the palmar cysts, our average follow-up was 26 months (range 12-39 months). There have been no recurrences to date.     

Silicone rubber implants for arthrosis of the scaphotrapezial trapezoidal joint

Degenerative changes of the scaphotrapezial trapezoidal (ST) joint commonly cause pain and weakness. These patients do not respond to conservative treatment, and for several years effort has been made to find an easy way to relieve symptoms. In a previous report a silicone interposition arthroplasty was described and considered to be a useful method. However, the durability of the elastomer was insufficient, and implant fractures and migration of fragments occurred. Since then the procedure has been modified, and high performance Silastic has been used for interposition. Ten patients have been reviewed, with a follow-up from 6 to 36 months (average 15 months). All patients have had lasting relief from pain and consider they have full hand function, without stiffness or limited thumb or wrist motion. Roentgenographic reviews have neither revealed deterioration nor dislocation or migration of the implant. Untoward bone reactions have not been observed. Implant hemiarthroplasty is indicated only when the degenerative changes are solely confined to the ST joint.     

Volar scaphotrapezial dislocation.

We present a case of volar luxation of the scaphotrapezial bone, in which radiographs suggested luxation of the scaphoid, but unclear relations to the other carpal bones. Computer tomographic reconstruction showed an isolated scaphotrapezial luxation. This was treated by closed reduction and a plaster cast, after which the patient regained normal function of her wrist.     

Arthroscopic resection of the dorsal ganglia of the wrist.

Arthroscopic ganglion resection provides a means by which dorsal wrist ganglia may be safely resected while avoiding the requisite scar accompanying open resection. Use of the arthroscope provides a much more complete examination of the wrist, allowing assessment of the cause of the ganglion as well as associated intra-articular problems. In a previous pilot study, 50% of patients demonstrated visible intra-articular abnormalities, including SL ligament laxity and perforations, TFCC tears, or chondral degeneration at the radial and triquetral-hamate joints. Use of the shaver within the joint allows the surgeon to directly address the ganglion's site of capsular origin, ensuring that the "one-way valve" mechanism is resected. The authors' initial experience was that the recurrence rate after arthroscopic resection was equal to or lower than after open resection. There is now some suggestion that resection of only the ganglion stalk, without removal of the sac, is feasible, but may yield slightly higher recurrence rates than formal open resection of the sac and stalk. This may be attributed to cases in which the capsular attachment to the SL ligament is debrided without identification and removal of a true stalk. The recurrence rate of a ganglion that has previously recurred also appears to be higher than that of primary resection. The authors look forward to publishing their completed results of an on-going follow-up study comparing open, arthroscopic, and recurrent ganglion resections.     

Arthroscopic findings in patients with painful wrist ganglia.

The aetiology of painful dorsal wrist ganglia remains obscure. In a prospective study we investigated the link between a painful dorsal wrist ganglion and wrist joint abnormality with wrist arthroscopy before excision of the ganglion. Of 16 wrists arthroscoped 12 were abnormal, 10 had an abnormal scapholunate joint, and two had abnormal lunatetriquetral joints. We think that painful dorsal wrist ganglia, like popliteal cysts in the knee, are markers of underlying joint abnormalities. Surgeons who treat painful ganglia should be aware of a possible underlying cause so that they can target treatment more accurately, particularly in recurrent cases and those patients with persistent wrist pain after excision of the ganglion.     

The wrist joint

The wrist joint is involved in a great majority of cases of rheumatoid arthritis. Tenosynovitis and synovitis can lead to severe destruction of the joint and to spontaneous ruptures of the tendons. Therefore, early tenosynovectomy and wrist-joint synovectomy are required. At the advanced stage of the disease, arthroplasty is necessary. Arthrodesis is rarely indicated in the treatment of severe wrist destruction in rheumatoid arthritis.     

Instabilities of the wrist joint

Carpal instabilities are caused by traumatic injuries to the bones and ligaments of the wrist joint, or by chronic overstretching of the ligaments due to inflammatory or degenerative diseases; an important factor in their development is the anatomical shape of the bones and their articular surfaces. According to their location, they are classified as radial (lateral), medial, and proximal carpal instabilities. The different types are described, especially with regard to their radiological signs; static and dynamic instabilities are distinguished. The common therapeutic strategies are reconstruction of ligaments, intercarpal arthrodesis, or correction osteotomy of the radius.     

Arthroscopic treatment of dorsal wrist ganglia

Incidentally discovered in 1987, arthroscopic treatment of dorsal wrist ganglia is based on our knowledge of their physiopathology which in turn benefits from the arthroscopic wrist evaluation. Dorsal wrist ganglia arise in the radiocarpal space from the dorsal part of the scapholunate ligament and migrate along the dorsal wrist capsule. According to their position above or under the dorsal intercarpal ligament, their cutaneous projection may vary. The basis of the arthroscopic treatment of wrist ganglia is, as with open surgery, the capsular resection in front of their origin. Arthroscopic resection is made either from dorsal radio-carpal or midcarpal approaches with little morbidity. Scars are unnoticeable, wrist mobility and strength close to normal by three months, which is the delay for dorsal wrist pain, always very limited, to disappear. The recurrence rate is however still debatable. Close to zero in some series, we had almost 20% recurrence rate in our series, with half of patients who reccur after two years follow-up. This variability in the recurrence rate also exists with open techniques. The only prospective and randomized study available to date found no differences between the two techniques, according to the recurrence rate.     

Anterior trans-scaphoid-lunate luxation of the wrist. Apropos of a case

About one uncommon case of anterior perilunate fracture-dislocation, the authors show the interest of posterior approach of the wrist to treat all the lesions. The scapho?d is screwing proximally to distally and a pin is used to stabilise the pyramidolunare articulation. The clinical results are good on motion, on strength; the lunate doesn't present necrosis on radiology at 4 years.     

Disk lesion of the wrist joint

Thirty-three patients with lesions of the articular disk of the wrist joint were treated. Predictability of results is best when there is an isolated lesion without osteoarthritis or severe dislocation of the distal radioulnar joint. However, good results can be obtained in combined injuries (for example, after a Colles' fracture). Thirty of the thirty-three patients were satisfied with the results of their operation.