The pronator quadratus muscle transfer combined with the Sauvé-Kapandji procedure was used to treat the distal radioulnar joint disorder in ten rheumatoid wrists for prevention against instability of the proximal ulnar stump. All patients were female with a mean age of 46.6 years. The mean follow-up time was 24.2 months. Postoperatively, supination increased in all patients with a mean of 50 degrees. Pain decreased significantly and none complained of prominence of the proximal ulnar stump in normal pronated position and during a tight grip. The wrist radiographs of both coronal and sagittal planes in normal and stress fisting views were used to evaluate the postoperative static and physiologic loaded stability of the proximal ulnar stump. It had shown this procedure provided good static proximal ulnar stump stability in both coronal and sagittal planes. However, in physiologic loaded condition, it was able to provide stability only in the sagittal plane.
We have reviewed the pre-operative radiological appearances, the type of operation performed and the results of surgery of 234 wrists in 179 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Based on this, a classification of X-rays of the rheumatoid wrist is described. It is designed to provide practical guidance to the surgeon who is planning surgery in a patient with rheumatoid disease. The surgical choices at each stage of the disease are briefly discussed.
SP0106 Current concepts in artificial replacement of the rheumatoid wrist and finger joints
