Partial radiocarpal arthrodesis.

Eight patients underwent partial radiocarpal arthrodesis for various wrist disorders. There were 5 men and 3 women, whose age at operation ranged from 33 to 59 years with an average of 44 years. The indications for operation included post-traumatic changes secondary to distal radius fracture in 5 cases, Kienböck's disease in 1, Madelung's deformity in 1, and rheumatoid arthritis in 1. Arthrodesis was performed at the radiolunate joint in 5 cases, and at the radioscapholunate joint in 3 cases. In all cases, bone union was obtained within 3 months postoperatively. Postoperative wrist pain disappeared in 6 cases, and decreased in 2 cases. The average postoperative flexion-extension arc of motion was 35 degrees in the radioscapholunate arthrodesis group, and 85 degrees in the radiolunate arthrodesis group. The postoperative grip strength compared with the unaffected hand averaged 51% in the radioscapholunate arthrodesis group, and 68% in the radiolunate arthrodesis group. One patient showed a deterioration in the osteoarthritic change in the midcarpal joint.