[Intercarpal and radiocarpal resection arthroplasty and arthrodesis]

Indications for intercarpal and radiocarpal resectionarthroplasty and fusions are osteoarthritis, KIEHNBOCK'S disease, rheumatoid arthritis and several posttraumatic disorders of the wrist joint. The resection of carpal bones leads to severe instability patterns of the wrist. In conclusion we recommend resection-arthroplasty just for treatment of the thumb carpo-metacarpal osteoarthritis. Implant resection arthroplasty of the lunate and scaphoid or total wrist implants are still causing multiple problems regarding heavy load. Therefore this implants should be confined to rheumatoid patients. Of the limited carpal arthrodeses the scaphotrapezium-trapezoid arthrodeses is the most frequent performed procedure. It can be indicated for STT-osteoarthritis, KIEHNBOCK's disease, scapho-lunate instability and scaphoid pseudarthrosis if other surgical procedures had failed presuming there are no signs of arthrosis in the radiocarpal joint. Persisting pain especially in heavy work is quite frequent after limited arthrodesis but can be greatly relieved by simultaneous wrist denervation. In advanced cases of osteoarthritis total wrist arthrodesis is still the best choice for the patient.