Summary
The surgical treatment of osteoarthritis of the wrist secondary to pseudarthrosis of the scaphoid is presented in the light of twenty years experience, and with improved knowledge of the pathological anatomy of this problem. The condition is difficult to treat owing to the varied pathology, the different needs of the patients and the alternative treatments available. Where a pseudarthrosis exists with involvement of the scaphoid-radius joint only, we recommend radial styloidectomy and repair of the pseudarthrosis. Where the pseudarthrosis is associated with carpal collapse which can be corrected, and osteoarthritis is confined to the joint between the capitate and lunate bones, we recommend correction of the carpal collapse and an arthrodesis between the lunate, capitate, hamate and triquetrum, with either anatomical repair of the scaphoid or eventual replacement with a Silastic implant. Where there is irreducable carpal collapse or lunate dislocation, proximal row carpectomy is recommended as an alternative to arthrodesis. Pseudarthrosis of the proximal pole of the scaphoid is best treated by replacement of the small bone fragment with a Silicone rubber implant. For pseudarthrosis with a painful arthritic joint of radius, scaphoid and lunate without involvement of the other periscaphoid joints, we recommend arthrodesis of the affected joints only. Finally, in cases of pseudarthrosis with advanced degenerative changes in the radiocarpal and intercarpal joints with associated collapse and deformity, or following unsuccessful resection, we recommend arthrodesis of the wrist.
Résumé
D'après leur expérience, acquise au long de vingt années de travail, les auteurs proposent des techniques précises, selon l'état anatomopathologique et la physiopathologie des lésions, pour le traitement chirurgical de l'ostéo-arthrite du poignet secondaire à une pseudarthrose du scaphoïde. Sujet assez difficile en raison du nombre de tableaux anatomo-pathologiques, des besoins des malades ainsi que des différentes solutions dont on dispose actuellement: Pour la pseudarthrose avec ostéo-arthrite limitée à l'extrémité distale de l'articulation radioscaphoïdienne, on recommande la styloïdectomie plus réparation de la pseudarthrose. Pour la pseudarthrose avec collapsus carpien, que l'on peut réparer, et ostéo-arthrite limitée au semi-lunaire et au grand os, on recommande la réduction du collapsus et l'arthrodèse semi-lunaire-grand os-os crochu-pyramidal avec restauration anatomique du scaphoïde ou remplacement éventuel par prothèse en Silastic. Pour la pseudarthrose avec collapsus carpien ou luxation semi-lunaire non réductible, on recommande la résection de la première rangée du carpe comme alternative à l'arthrodèse. Pour la pseudarthrose scaphoïdienne polaire proximale, on recommande le remplacement du fragment osseux par de la gomme siliconée. Pour la pseudarthrose accompagnée d'arthrose douloureuse de l'articulation radio-scaphoïdesemi-lunaire, toutes les autres articulations péri-scaphoïdiennes étant normales, on recommande une arthrodèse partielle, limitée aux articulations atteintes. Pour la pseudarthrose accompagnée d'arthrose radio-carpienne et intercarpienne sévère avec collapsus et déformation ou douloureuse, consécutive à l'échec de larges résections, on recommande l'arthrodèse totale du poignet.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Allende BT (1979) Wrist arthrodesis. Clin Orthop 142: 164–167
Allende BT, Engelen JC (1980) Fracture of the proximal Pole of the scaphoid. Book of abstracts first congress of the International Federation of Societies for Surgery of the Hand, p 130
Allende BT, Borda Márquez C, De Sanctis HE (1982) Seudoartrosis y necrosis del polo proximal del escafoides. Acta Ortop Latino Am 9: 28–35
Barnard L, Stublins SG (1948) Styloidectomy of the radius in the surgical treatment of non-union of the carpal navicular. J Bone Joint Surg 30-A: 98–102
Blanco R (1982) Resección artroplastía de Muñeca en el tratamiento de secuela post-traumática. Rev Soc Argent Cirurg Mano. 2: 17–30
Briggs BT, Cooney WP III, Linscheid RL (1978) Proximal row carpectomy. Orthop Trans 2: 216
Cotton FJ (1924) Operative treatment of fractures. Ill Med J 45: 357–359
Gérard Y (1981) La résection arthroplastique de la première rangée des os du carpe. Poignet et médecine de rééducation. Collection de pathologie locomotrice. Masson, Paris, pp 249–254
Inglis AE, JOnes EC (1977) Proximal row carpectomy for diseases of the proximal row. J Bone Joint Surg 59-A: 460–463
Kleinert JM, Stern PJ, Lister GD, Kleinhaus RJ (1985) Complications of scaphoid silicone arthroplasty. J Bone Joint Surg 67-A: 422–427
Mack GR, Bosse M, Gelberman RH, Yu E (1984) The Natural history of scaphoid non-union. J Bone Joint Surg 66-A: 504–509
Nerviases RJ (1983) Proximal row carpectomy for post tranmatic disorders of the carpus. J Hand Surg 8: 301–305
Ruby LK, Stinson J, Belsky MR (1985) The natural history of scaphoid non-union. J Bone Joint Surg 67-A: 428–432
Soto-Hall R (1948) Discussion “Styloidectomy of the radius in the surgical treatment of non-union of carpal navicular”. J Bone Joint Surg 30-A: 102
Swanson AB (1973) Flexible implant resection arthroplasty in the hand and extremities. Mosby, St Louis
Watson KH, Hempton RF (1980) Limited wrist arthrodesis. I The triscaphoid joint. J Hand Surg 5: 320–327
Watson KH, Goodman ML, Johnson TR (1981) Limited wrist arthrodesis. Part II: Intercarpal and radiocarpal combinations. J Hand Surg 6: 223–233
Watson KH, Brenner LH (1985) Degenerative disorders of the wrist. J Hand Surg 10-A: 1002–1006
Youm Y, Mac Murtry RY, Flatt AE, Gillespie TE (1978) Kinematics of the wrist. J Bone Joint Surg 60-A: 423–431
Zimel NP, Stark HP, Ashworth CR, Rickard TA, Anderson DR (1984) Treatment of selected patients with an ununited fracture of the proximal part of the scaphoid by excision of the fragment and insertion of a carved silicone rubber spacer. J Bone Joint Surg 66-A: 510–517
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Allende, B.T. Osteoarthritis of the wrist secondary to non-union of the scaphoid. International Orthopaedics 12, 201–211 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00547164
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00547164