HIGH IMPLANT FRACTURE INCIDENCE WITH SUTTER SILICONE METACARPOPHALANGEAL JOINT ARTHROPLASTY

We performed a retrospective review of Sutter silicone metacarpophalan geal (MP) joint arthroplasties in 34 patients (42 hands, 168 implants) with rheumatoid arthritis. Patients were evaluated at an average of 2 7 months (minimum follow-up period, 12 months). Twenty per cent of the implants were shown to be definitely fractured on final follow-up exa mination, and 45% followed for more than 3 years were definitely fract ured. At the final follow-up examination, the average ulnar drift in i ntact implants was 11 degrees and in the fractured implants, 23 degree s. However, there was no correlation between implant fracture and pati ent satisfaction. Eighty percent of patients said they would undergo t he procedure again. Because of a significantly higher implant fracture incidence at a relatively shorter follow-up period than that of most studies of silicone MP implants of the Swanson design, we have abandon ed the use of the Sutter implant.