WRIST ARTHRODESIS IN RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS - A COMPARISON OF 2 METHODSOF FUSION

17 wrists were arthrodesed in 13 patients with severe wrist disease du e to rheumatoid arthritis. Eight fusions in seven patients were carrie d out using a radial sliding bone graft technique whilst nine fusions in nine patients were undertaken using a third tubular AO plate. Subje ctive, objective and radiological assessments confirmed the efficacy o f both methods but indicated a shorter period of post-operative immobi lization for patients treated using the AO plate fixation technique. T he importance of this is discussed.