Wrist arthrodesis as a salvage procedure for failed implant arthroplasty

Salvage of failed total wrist arthroplasty by arthrodesis may be difficult because of bone loss and poor quality of bone and soft tissues. We examined the outcomes of wrist arthrodesis for failed total wrist arthroplasty in a retrospective study of 21 wrists in 17 patients. Clinical data, radiographs, patient-reported outcomes and DASH questionnaires were used. Thirteen women and four men had undergone total wrist arthroplasty at an average age of 55 years. The mode of failure was aseptic loosening in 13 wrists. The average time from the index arthroplasty to wrist arthrodesis was 7.6 years. Autograft and/or allograft bone graft was used in all of the wrists. Arthrodesis was achieved in 11 wrists and ten had a nonunion. Six arthrodeses underwent eight revisions for nonunion, with two achieving union. The mean DASH score was 29 in wrists that fused and 36 in those that did not fuse. Pain scores averaged 2.1 in the wrists that fused and 3.3 in the nonunion group. Most patients had clinical improvement.