Complications following AO/ASIF wrist arthrodesis

Seventy-three wrist arthrodeses (71 patients) using AO/ASIF dorsal plate fixation and iliac crest bone graft were retrospectively reviewed to assess complications of this technique. There were 82 complications in 50 wrists. Nonunion of the radius to the carpus did not occur. Forty-five of the complications were related to the soft tissues; 29 were bone or articular complications. Chronic unexplained pain represented 8 of the complications. Overall, 63 of the 82 complications resolved. Nineteen wrists required additional surgery, most frequently for plate removal. Eighteen wrists were left with one or more residual difficulties after fusion. Thus, 55 of the wrist arthrodeses ultimately resulted in a stable, pain-free wrist.