Wrist arthrodesis using a wrist fusion plate

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Hand Surgery
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Wrist arthrodesis is a surgical procedure to fuse the wrist joint, often indicated for severe arthritis or instability.
• Custom-designed plates, such as the Synthes wrist fusion plate, aim to improve outcomes in wrist fusion surgery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the short-term clinical outcomes of wrist arthrodesis using the Synthes wrist fusion plate.
• To assess patient satisfaction, pain levels, functional recovery, and complication rates following the procedure.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 13 wrist arthrodeses performed between 1990 and 1996 using the Synthes wrist fusion plate.
• Independent assessment by a certified hand therapist included patient surveys, Jebsen-Taylor hand function tests, activities of daily living tests, and Buck-Gramcko and Lohmann evaluations.
• 11 patients were evaluated with a mean follow-up of 31.5 months.

Main Results:

• 100% patient satisfaction was reported.
• Mean preoperative pain score (7.2) significantly improved to 0.8 postoperatively.
• Functional scores improved from a mean of 5.0 to 7.4. Jebsen-Taylor scores were comparable between fused and uninvolved wrists. No pseudarthroses or plate failures occurred; one plate was removed due to skin coverage issues.

Conclusions:

• The Synthes wrist fusion plate demonstrates promising short-term clinical outcomes for wrist arthrodesis.
• The study highlights high patient satisfaction, significant pain reduction, and good functional restoration.
• Low complication rates suggest the plate is a viable option for wrist fusion.