Arthrodesis of the nonrheumatoid wrist

From March 1977 to September 1986, wrist arthrodesis was performed on 20 patients with various nonrheumatoid wrist disorders. Among them, 16 patients were men and 4 were women. Their ages ranged from 13 to 48 years, with a mean of 28.1 years. The various disorders included giant cell tumor, tuberculosis, flaccid wrist, and traumatic osteoarthritis. The major symptoms included pain, swelling, stiffness and deformity, that persisted for over 12 months before hospitalization. Both clinical and radiological examination were included for evaluation. The follow-up period ranged from 12 to 126 months, with a mean of 55 months. The results showed that the pain subsided, the grip strength increased, and the functional range of motion was preserved. All patients were able to carry normal lives. The major complication was rare. The only one nonunion case achieved a solid union after revision. Although wrist arthrodesis has its own disadvantages, it still effectively solves many wrist problems in carefully selected cases.