The Kapandji procedure was Performed on 14 patients who presented with
chronic pain at the distal radioulnar joint, limited forearm rotation
or poor grip after an injury involving the distal radioulnar joint. T
en patients were able to resume their original occupation and leisure
activities. Some complained of mild aching after heavy use. Postoperat
ively, grip strength on the affected side was, on average, 84 per cent
that of the opposite side. Forearm rotation in the affected arm avera
ged 129-degrees before operation and 170-degrees afterwards, compared
with 171-degrees on the normal side, while wrist flexion-extension ave
raged 129-degrees preoperatively, 126-degrees postoperatively and 148-
degrees on the normal side. Four patients had less satisfactory result
s because of pain and a feeling of insecurity due to an unstable proxi
mal ulna. However, two of these had severe residual problems in relati
on to the initial forearm component of the injury, the symptoms from w
hich were difficult to separate from the distal radioulnar injury. Alt
hough the Kapandji procedure can yield excellent results, if is diffic
ult to predict which patients will suffer from an unstable ulna.