RESULTS OF SCAPHOTRAPEZIOTRAPEZOID FUSION FOR ISOLATED IDIOPATHIC ARTHRITIS

Scaphotrapeziotrapezoid (STT) joint fusion was carried out for pain re lief in eight patients with isolated arthritis. Seven patients had sat isfactory relief of symptoms, The subjective results were excellent in five, good in two and bad in one patient, who had non-union of the ar throdesis and was also the only. patient to develop trapeziometacarpal arthritis. Average grip strength was 0.8 and lateral pinch strength t vas 0.7 of that in the other hand. There was a very small relative dif ference in dexterity. There was an average difference of 9 degrees of flexion-extension and 13 degrees of radio-ulnar deviation. It is concl uded that for isolated idiopathic STT arthritis, fusion gives very sat isfactory results with minimal complications.