EXCISION OF THE DISTAL ULNA IN RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS - IS THE PRICE TOO HIGH

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis who underwent excision of the dista l ulna were reviewed and the operated wrist was compared with the non- operated side in the 40 patients who had the procedure performed unila terally. Radiological assessment showed that the radiocapitate measure ment of carpal translocation was the most consistent and that excision of the distal ulna was not associated with statistically significant collapse, ulnar translocation or radial rotation of the carpus. 61% of wrists spontaneously developed a radial shelf or limited radiocarpal fusion following excision of the distal ulna, compared to 21% of non-o perated wrists. However, there was no statistically significant differ ence in carpal collapse or ulnar translocation between these two group s.