Loose body in the wrist: diagnosis and treatment.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to report on 10 cases of symptomatic loose bodies in the wrist joints diagnosed using arthroscopy.

TYPE OF STUDY: Retrospective review.

METHODS

From 1986 to 2000, we performed wrist arthroscopy for 707 patients, 10 of whom had loose bodies in the wrist joints. The clinical records were reviewed retrospectively. The patients included 8 men and 2 women, and the average age was 28 years (range, 16 to 67 years). The chief complaint was wrist pain in all patients, but locking was uncommon. Preoperative diagnosis was difficult in all but 3 cases; in those cases, an osseous component was found within the loose bodies. The remaining cases were diagnosed by wrist arthroscopy.

RESULTS

The loose bodies existed in the radiocarpal joint in 5 cases, and all could be removed arthroscopically. In the other 5 cases, the loose bodies were in the distal radioulnar joint, and arthrotomy was needed to remove them. After removal of the loose bodies, the pain was relieved in all cases without any surgical complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Loose bodies in the wrist joint should be included in the differential diagnosis for chronic wrist pain. Wrist arthroscopy is of value because the preoperative diagnosis is usually difficult.