[Partial wrist prosthesis: concept and preliminary results in 13 cases]

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic surgery
• Biomaterials science
• Hand and wrist reconstructive surgery

Background:

• Degenerative arthritis of the wrist often leads to pain and functional limitation.
• Traditional treatments include total wrist fusion, which sacrifices joint mobility.
• There is a need for joint-preserving alternatives to manage wrist arthritis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and evaluate a novel partial wrist prosthesis.
• To assess the feasibility and early outcomes of this new surgical technique.
• To present this prosthesis as a potential alternative to total wrist fusion.

Main Methods:

• The technique involves a proximal row carpectomy.
• Resurfacing of the lunate fossa of the radius and the head of the capitate is performed.
• The study reports on the initial 13 cases with a mean follow-up of 32.7 months.

Main Results:

• The partial wrist prosthesis was successfully implemented in 13 cases.
• The mean follow-up period was 32.7 months, ranging from 13 to 72 months.
• Early results indicate the potential of this prosthesis in treating degenerative wrist arthritis.

Conclusions:

• The novel partial wrist prosthesis represents a viable surgical option.
• This technique may serve as an alternative to total wrist fusion for degenerative arthritis.
• Further research and longer-term follow-up are warranted to fully establish its efficacy.