[Treatment outcome after surgical arthrodesis]

Different results are reported following total wrist fusion. We performed 64 total wrist fusions due to posttraumatic or degenerative arthrosis of the wrist including Kienböck's disease. Clinical outcome was evaluated using the DASH-questionnaire. The mean DASH-function/symptom score was 45.6 points (0 points representing the best possible results and 100 points representing the worst possible result). In addition, 35 patients of this group were reexamined clinically and radiologically using a modified traditional wrist score. The preliminary results of the traditional wrist score and the DASH-score demonstrated a significant correlation (r = -0.71; p < 0.001) indicating the validity of the DASH-score. In conclusion, this study shows that wrist fusion results in significant pain reduction and improvement of function. However, complete pain relief cannot be expected for the majority of patients. The new AO wrist fusion plate is used in our standard technique of wrist fusion. In a further study, we will investigate the outcome of total wrist fusion in comparison with limited wrist fusion using the DASH-questionnaire and the wrist score.