The long-term outcome of four-corner fusion.

Introduction Four-corner arthrodesis with excision of the scaphoid is an accepted salvage procedure for scapholunate advanced collapse (SLAC) and scaphoid nonunion advanced collapse (SNAC) and has been performed in our unit for over 20 years. We have undertaken a retrospective review of 116 of these procedures performed in 110 patients between 1992 and 2009. Fifty-eight patients attended for a clinical evaluation, and 29 responded by postal questionnaire. Methods The surgical technique undertaken was standard. That is, through a dorsal approach the scaphoid and tip of the radial styloid were excised. The capitate, lunate, triquetrum, and hamate articular surfaces were then prepared down to bleeding bone. Bone grafts from the scaphoid and radial styloid were then inserted and fixation undertaken. For the latter, various methods were used, including Kirschner (K-)wires, staples, bone screws, but predominantly the Spider plate (Integra Life Sciences, USA). Thereafter the wrist was immobilized for a minimum period of 2 weeks prior to rehabilitation. Results Follow-up was done at a mean of 9 years and 4 months (range 3-19 years). All patients reported a significant improvement in pain relief and ∼50% of flexion extension, although only 40% of radioulnar deviation. Grip strength was again ∼50% of the contralateral side. Most patients reported a significant improvement in function with 87% returning to work. In addition, radiologic evaluation identified 28 patients (31%) who demonstrated ongoing signs of nonunion, particularly around the triquetrum. Fourteen of these (15%) underwent a further procedure, generally with success. Finally, none of the patients demonstrated any arthritic changes in the lunate fossa on follow-up X-ray, and all secondary procedures were undertaken within 2 years of the primary. Discussion This research has demonstrated that four-corner fusion fixed with a circular plate can result in a satisfactory outcome with a reduction in pain, a functional range of motion, and a satisfactory functional outcome. The bulk of the complications appear to occur in the first 2 years after surgery. Thereafter, analysis shows long-term satisfaction with little deterioration. Nonunion, particularly around the triquetrum, continues to be a problem, but it may be that this bone should be excised along with the scaphoid, resulting in a three-part fusion only. Alternatively, a simple capitolunate fusion may be satisfactory.

Methotrexate and post operative complications in patients with rheumatoid arthritis undergoing elective orthopaedic surgery--a ten year follow-up.

In the 1990's there were concerns that methotrexate might increase the risk of post operative complications following elective orthopaedic surgery; as a result many Units initiated policies to discontinue methotrexate prior to elective orthopaedic surgery. In 2001 we carried out a controlled study of complications after elective surgery in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who either continued or discontinued methotrexate prior to surgery. In this study we showed that continuation of methotrexate therapy prior to orthopaedic surgery did not increase the risk of infection or surgical complication occurring in patients with RA within one year of surgery. The limitation of this study was that complications later than one year were not studied. Sixty-five patients have been followed up. Thirty-one were fully assessed in clinic and 34 underwent a structured telephone interview. There were no incidences of deep bone infection in any patient group so that there is no evidence that continued methotrexate therapy in the perioperative period increases the risk of late deep infections. We adhere to our original advice that in the absence of renal failure or sepsis, methotrexate therapy should not be stopped before elective orthopaedic surgery in patients with RA whose disease is controlled by the drug before surgery.

Infection in primary hip arthroplasty after previous steroid infiltration.

Steroid Infiltration into arthritic joints is a common means of treating pain. It is also sometimes done to differentiate pain in the hip from that in the low back or knee. We performed a retrospective review of the notes of all patients who had undergone hip replacements in Wrightington Hospital under the care of the senior author (V.R.) from 1997 to 2004. We identified all patients who had at least 1 year follow up after the procedure. The infection rates in the patients who had received an injection of steroid into the joint prior to hip replacement and in a matched cohort who had received no such intervention were compared. In the injected group there was no incidence of infection during the period of follow up. There was one case of infection in a patient who had not had an injection prior to the arthroplasty. There was also a case of superficial infection in a patient who had no steroid infiltration prior to surgery, which responded to antibiotics. Steroid injections are a valuable adjunct in the management of patients with arthritic joints. This review clearly identifies no increased risk of infection in patients who had received the injection prior to the operation.