WRIST ARTHRODESIS IN POSTTRAUMATIC ARTHRITIS - A COMPARISON OF 2 METHODS

The Arbeitsgemeinschaft fur Osteosynthesefragen arthrodesis technique is compared with the proximal row carpectomy technique with radiocapit ohamate arthrodesis for patients with traumatic and degenerative arthr itis of the wrist. Both techniques gave satisfactory functional and x- ray film results in 85% of the patients. Grip strength measured on the Jamar dynamometer at settings 1-5 was 77-83% of the opposite in the d ominant extremities and 56-82% of the opposite in the nondominant extr emities. Despite the decrease in grip strengths after wrist fusion, gr ip strength curve patterns were similar for operated and nonoperated e xtremities. There were no statistically significant differences in gri p strength between the two groups. Patients who did not have index and long ray carpometacarpal joints fused had pain at that level requirin g a second procedure to arthrodese the joints. Index and long finger c arpometa-carpal joint arthrodesis at the time of wrist arthrodesis is recommended in patients with heavy labor jobs.