SCAPHOLUNATE ADVANCED COLLAPSE PATTERN OF ARTHRITIS IN CALCIUM PYROPHOSPHATE DEPOSITION DISEASE OF THE WRIST

Chondrocalcinosis is a well-described radiographic finding in patients with calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition disease of the wrist and other joints. The medical records and x-ray films of 12 patients e valuated over an 18-month period for chondrocalcinosis of the wrist we re examined for symptoms and physical and x-ray film findings. Thirtee n wrists were affected. All wrists were noted to have calcification of the triangular fibrocartilage complex. Twelve of 13 wrists had the ch aracteristic features of the scapholunate advanced collapse pattern of arthritis. In addition, there was a correlation in our series between chondrocalcinosis and carpal tunnel syndrome. Destruction of the inte rosseous soft tissues caused by crystalline deposition could alter the biomechanics of the wrist in a similar fashion to that of the posttra umatic scapholunate advanced collapse wrist leading to arthritic sympt oms.