Arthroscopic diagnosis of disk injury of the wrist joint

Arthrography of the wrist joint is a possibility to show a disc lesion by demonstrating a communication between the radioulnar and -carpal space in cases of persistent wrist pain after an accident without any bone disorders in x-ray. For differentiation between a pre-existent disc variety with a central whole and a real traumatic tear or degenerative alterations arthroscopy is the method of choice. Furthermore other changes of the wrist as free bodies and chondropathy can be seen. The indication for an arthrotomy and a causal treatment are more exact and were proved by a follow-up of 10 patient between 1985-1987 at the orthopedic university clinic Berlin.     

Arthroscopic diagnosis and treatment of dorsal wrist ganglion

Thirty-seven patients with dorsal wrist ganglia underwent arthroscopic resection. The mean follow-up was 20 months, and no complications were encountered. The ganglia were classified into three types according to their arthroscopic appearance. This classification helps to determine the amount of dorsal capsular resection required.     

Arthroscopic management of post traumatic wrist sub-acute and chronic disorders

Wrist post traumatic disorders are numerous. They can affect young and old patients, but also distal radial parts or intra carpal joints. Several after-effects can generate many different disorders. The arthroscopic approach allows for simple treatment of some post traumatic disorders with good results and a very low morbidity. The authors present their own experiences in certain indications, some techniques and the results of these procedures.     

创伤后踝关节慢性疼痛的关节镜诊治

目的：探讨对创伤后慢性踝关节疼痛患者行关节镜检查的诊断和治疗价值。方法：自1999年4月至2008年6月,收治39例创伤后踝关节慢性疼痛的患者,男15例,女24例;年龄15～58岁,平均32岁。病程2个月～11年,平均18个月,其中X线显示受伤时骨折脱位者26例。均行关节镜检查,明确关节内病变状况,并对相应病变行镜下清理术,采用美国足踝外科学会（AOFAS）后足踝评分表对手术前后功能状况进行评分。结果：软骨损伤及退变26例,游离体形成3例,撞击综合征21例。引起主要撞击的组织有：滑膜增生3例;韧带断裂后断端撞击10例,包括距腓前韧带断裂7例,下胫腓韧带前内侧束远端断裂3例;半月板样组织撞击6例;骨软骨增生撞击3例。平均随访（14.2±8.4）个月（5～36个月）,术后关节功能AOFAS评分由术前的平均（59.7±16.9）分改善为（68.8±21.2）分,其中主观评分改善更为明显,术前平均（22.8±10.0）分,术后（29.5±12.1）分。结论：对于踝关节损伤后慢性疼痛患者,尤其是X线无骨折脱位者,及时行关节镜检查,有助于明确关节内具体病变状况,且术中一并进行关节清理,能显著改善关节功能。     

Arthroscopic wrist arthrolysis

Wrist stiffness is a complication of wrist trauma or surgery. Rehabilitation is the treatment of choice to improve the wrist range of motion. Since 1988 we used the arthroscopic wrist arthrolysis. Criteria for patient inclusion in our preop and postop study were wrist stiffness with or without pain, unsuccessful results from rehabilitation after 3 to 6 months. From 1988 to 2003, 47 cases (45 patients: 35 males and 10 females), with a mean age of 36 years were operated on. All the radiocarpal, midcarpal and DRUJ portals were used in relationship with the site of rigidity. At a mean follow up of 58 months (range from 3 to 176 months) no complications were documented. Pain was almost absent in all the cases, mean flexion-extension ROM increased from 92 degrees preop to 106 degrees postop, mean pronation/supination increased from 145 degrees preop to 155 degrees postop, and mean grip strength increased from 25 to 31 kg postop. The average modified Mayo Wrist Score improved from 39 to 87, and the postop DASH Questionnaire obtained an average of 21 points.     

Arthroscopic synovectomy of the wrist

Arthroscopic synovectomy is safe and reliable, with mild postoperative morbidity. The rationale of a surgical synovectomy is to excise inflamed synovium and thereby, remove as much effusion and inflammatory substrate as possible. In most cases, arthroscopic synovectomy is performed as an outpatient procedure. The technique has also been used for other diagnoses causing wrist arthritis, but very few results have been reported and the indications remain to be defined. In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and postinfectious monoarthritis, a long period of increased comfort and improved function can be anticipated.     

Arthroscopic volar wrist ganglionectomy

As an original technique developed by our department, the preliminary result of arthroscopic resection of volar wrist ganglion was first published in 2003. Since then, there were few reports in the literature concerning this new treatment method. The aim of the study is to evaluate the long-term outcome of this treatment technique. From August 1997 to April 2005, 21 volar wrist ganglia with average size of 2 cm (range 1-4 cm) were treated. The average age of patients was 48.6 (range 18-63). Thirteen ganglia had previous treatment including either aspiration or open excision. Seventy-one percent of the operations were performed under local anesthesia. Wrist arthrogram was performed in 9 cases. Seven cases showed origin from radiocarpal joint and all proceeded to arthroscopic resection successfully. Arthroscopically, 75% of ganglia arose from the interval between radioscaphocapitate and long radiolunate ligament, and 25% from the interval between long radiolunate and short radiolunate ligament. Sixteen of the 21 ganglia could be excised by arthroscopic technique. The average follow up was 56 months (range 9-101 months). There were 2 recurrences. One was treated with repeated arthroscopic excision and the other by open excision. There was no impairment of wrist motion and function in all patients. No neurovascular complication was encountered. Arthroscopic resection was an effective treatment method for well-selected volar wrist ganglion arising from the radiocarpal joint in long run.     

Arthroscopic synovectomy in wrist arthritis

Arthroscopic synovectomy is a safe outpatient procedure with minimal postoperative morbidity.In patients who have rheumatoid arthritis and possibly also in patients who have JRA, SLE, and postinfectious arthritis, a long period of increased comfort and improved function can be anticipated. The procedure may be considered in post-traumatic cases with joint contracture and as an adjunct to other measures for certain osteoarthritic disorders. In patients who have septic arthritis with insufficient clinical improvement after systemic antibiotics and lavage, arthroscopic synovectomy seems advantageous.     

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.     

Arthroscopic management of dorsal wrist impingement

Dorsal wrist impingement (DWI) occurs when the dorsal wrist capsule becomes trapped and pinched between the extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB) and the dorsal ridge of the scaphoid. The diagnosis is purely clinical and depends on accurate localization by history and during examination as well as carefully ruling out alternative etiologies for dorsal wrist pain. Nonsurgical treatment is based on corticosteroid injection and activity modification. In resistant cases, arthroscopic resection of the involved segment of dorsal capsule offers a reliable solution for the problem.     

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.     

Arthroscopic management of septic arthritis of the wrist

Bacterial septic arthritis of the wrist is a joint-threatening emergency that is often treated by open irrigation and debridement (I and D). There is evidence that patients with isolated septic arthritis of the wrist require fewer operations and have a shorter hospital stay when treated arthroscopically. This article describes the surgical technique for arthroscopic I and D of the wrist and discusses the indications and benefits of arthroscopic versus open I and D for septic arthritis of the wrist.     

Arthroscopic synovectomy of the wrist in rheumatoid arthritis

We analysed the results of arthroscopic synovectomy of the wrist in 18 patients (19 wrists) with rheumatoid arthritis who had not responded to conservative treatment. The patients' symptoms were assessed using visual analogue scales for pain and satisfaction. Standard posteroanterior radiographs which were taken pre-operatively and at final follow-up were analysed using a modified Larsen scoring system (normal, 0; total destruction, 40). The mean follow-up period was 29.2 months (24 to 45). The mean pre-operative pain score was 8.58 which decreased to 3.58 one year after surgery and increased again to 4.42 at final follow-up. This suggested a gradual increase in pain with time. The mean satisfaction score was 6.26. The mean modified Larsen's score was 9.8 pre-operatively and 13.9 at final follow-up, which demonstrated the slow progression of degenerative changes. Arthroscopic synovectomy for rheumatoid arthritis of the wrist allows effective pain relief and high patient satisfaction, although any prolonged benefits will require long-term follow-up.     

Arthroscopic "-ectomy" surgery of the wrist

Arthroscopic surgical techniques are well suited for the removal of diseased tissue. This article illustrates anecdotally some of the feasible arthroscopic "-ectomy" procedures of the wrist: centrum excision of the triangular fibrocartilage complex following injury; synovectomy in the management of wrist rheumatoid arthritis; proximal row carpectomy for degenerative arthritis; and hemiresection of the distal ulna.     

Arthroscopic treatment of posttraumatic chondromalacia patellae

An arthroscopic procedure of excision of damaged cartilage and drilling the subchondral bone plate for treatment of chondromalacia patellae is described. Satisfactory results and absence of major complications are reported in a preliminary, short-term series of 24 cases of symptomatic posttraumatic chondromalacia patellae, with a mean follow up of 12 months.