Capitolunate Arthrodesis for Treatment of Scaphoid Nonunion Advanced Collapse (SNAC) Wrist Arthritis

The aim of the study was to evaluate results of capitolunate arthrodesis for the treatment of post traumatic degenerative SNAC wrist disorders. A capitolunate arthrodesis was performed on 12 patients, three women and nine men, of 44 years in average (28–66 years). Ten patients were manual workers; dominant side was involved in seven cases with no history of previous operation. Fixation of the arthrodesis was performed with headless compression screws. Patients were reviewed at 37.4 months of average follow up (range; 12–47 months). Mayo score equal to 82.8 points. Radiolunate and capitolunate angles were decreased of 6 and 8° respectively at the final follow up radiograph compared to preoperative values. The Ten manual worker patients were able to return to their previous professional activities and the other two patients were retired but they resume their sports and recreational activities. With the advent of headless compression screws the capitolunate arthrodesis gained a higher union rate, short operative time and short rehabilitation period. In the present study the capitolunate arthrodesis allowed restoring a stable functional wrist in the 12 patients reviewed. It is a satisfactory therapeutic alternative to four corners fusion for SNAC wrist with osteoarthritis.     

Scaphoid Nonunion Advanced Collapse Classifications: A Reliability Study

Watson & Ballet and Vender staging systems are widely known for classifying SNAC wrist osteoarthritis. Despite of its day-to-day use, no assessment for its agreement was performed. To Evaluate the intra and interobserver agreement for these classification systems. Forty-eight posteroanterior wrist radiographs from patients with osteoarthritis due to scaphoid nonunion were evaluated at two occasions??in a 1?week interval??by five observers with different expertise??hand surgeons, hand surgery residents, orthopedic surgeons and orthopedic surgery residents. They rated osteoarthritis stages according to the above-cited systems. Kappa statistics were performed for measuring agreement. Unsatisfactory (Cohen??s Kappa <0.5) agreement was found for all intra and inter observer measures for both systems. There was no clear correlation between expertise and kappa values. Unsatisfactory agreement was found for both classifications, despite the evaluator expertise. A rationale of a more reliable classification is needed.     

Treatment of Scaphoid Nonunions with Closed-Wedge Osteotomy of the Distal Radius: Report of Six Cases

BACKGROUND: The ideal treatment of nonunion of the scaphoid remains unresolved and controversial. It was hypothesized that scaphoid nonunion could be treated successfully using a closed-wedge osteotomy of the distal radius which reduces the inclination of the joint surface and decreases the pressure between the radial and scaphoid surfaces with a reduction of the force applied by the styloid process. We present a preliminary report in six patients with nonunion of the carpal scaphoid using this procedure. The main objective of the osteotomy is to achieve fusion, alleviate pain, and improve function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six closed-wedge osteotomies to reduce the inclination of the distal radial surface were performed in patients with scaphoid waist nonunion and a viable proximal pole, without posttrauma osteoarthritis or with moderate posttraumatic osteoarthritis confined to the radio-scaphoid joint. The present series of six patients (all men) were followed for at least 8 months (mean follow-up 14.2 months, range 8-21 months). RESULTS: Solid union was achieved in five patients. Postoperatively, three patients were pain-free, two presented mild pain for heavy work, and one had moderate pain. This type of osteotomy reduced the inclination of the joint surface (radial angulation) 6.2 degrees on average. There was an improvement in joint flexion from a preoperative mean of 40 degrees to 52.5 degrees at last follow-up, in extension from 40.8 degrees to 66.7 degrees , in radial deviation from 15 degrees to 22.5 degrees , and in ulnar deviation from 30.8 degrees to 41.7 degrees . CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary study suggests that a closed-wedge osteotomy of the distal radius could be an alternative approach for patients with scaphoid waist nonunion and a viable proximal pole, without posttrauma osteoarthritis or with moderate posttraumatic osteoarthritis confined to the radio-scaphoid joint. The number of cases was small; however, further studies with a much larger series are needed before routine use of wedge osteotomy in scaphoid nonunion can be recommended.     

四角融合术后腕关节稳定性的衡量指标

目的提出衡量腕关节四角融合术后融合体稳定性的指标,探讨术后如何改善腕功能。方法12具新鲜尸体前臂标本,男8具,女4具,左右各6肢,模拟行四角融合术后,固定于腕关节动力学测试仪上,模拟腕关节的掌屈、背伸、尺倾、桡倾等运动,运动前后摄腕关节正、侧位X线片,测量并观察头月角(α)、桡月角(β)、头月正位角(θ)、融合体高度(H)和融合体宽度(W)的变化,并行统计学分析。结果腕关节由运动前中立位至掌屈50°时,α、β、H值与运动前相比,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.01);背伸至40°时,α、β、H值与运动前相比,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01)。腕关节由中立位至桡倾15°时,θ与W与运动前比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);至尺倾25°时,θ与W的运动前比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论头月角、桡月角、头月正位角、融合体高度和融合体宽度等指标可用于衡量四角融合术后融合体的稳定性。     

Scapholunate instability: current concepts in diagnosis and management

Injuries to the scapholunate joint are the most frequent cause of carpal instability and account for a considerable degree of wrist dysfunction, lost time from work, and interference with activities. The complex arrangement and kinematics of the 2 rows of carpal bones allows for an enormous degree of physiologic motion, and a hierarchy of primary and secondary ligaments serves to balance an inherently unstable structure. Although insufficient to cause abnormal carpal posture or collapse on static radiographs, an isolated injury to the scapholunate interosseous ligament may be the harbinger of a relentless progression to abnormal joint mechanics, cartilage wear, and degenerative change. Intervention for scapholunate instability is aimed at arresting the degenerative process by restoring ligament continuity and normalizing carpal kinematics. In this review, we discuss the anatomy, kinematics, and biomechanical properties of the scapholunate articulation and provide a foundation for understanding the spectrum of scapholunate ligament instability. We propose an algorithm for treatment based on the stage of injury, degree of secondary ligamentous damage, and arthritic change.