[Management of painful pseudarthrosis of the carpal scaphoid bone with closed wedge osteotomy of the distal radius: a prospective study with long-term follow-up]. / Ostéotomie d'horizontalisation de la glène radiale dans les pseudarthroses du scaphoïde carpien.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: We propose a different management scheme for painful post-traumatic osteoarthritis of the wrist resulting from pseudarthrosis of the carpal scaphoid bone. We report a prospective series with a maximum follow-up of 16 years. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From 1973 to 1990, we performed 100 first-intention wedge osteotomies of the distal radius in patients with painful pseudarthrosis of the carpal scaphoid bone. Inclusion criteria were painful wrists with established pseudarthrosis. The operation consisted in the removal of a small lateral wedge (base f 0.5 cm) without affecting the length of the radius nor the function of the distal radio-ulnar joint. Twenty patients were lost to follow-up and follow-up was less than two years for two. The present series corresponds to 77 patients (all male manual laborers) followed for at least two years. Mean follow-up was 4 years (range 216 years). To evaluate outcome, we developed a devoted scoring system, the Scaphoid Pseudarthosis Hand Score, (SPHS, max 60 points) with items for pain, range of motion, grasping strength, work capacity, wrist function and post-traumatic arthritis. RESULTS: At last follow-up, the SPHS was 45.66 points versus 19.98 before surgery. The pain score was 8.51 versus 3.19: 67 patients (86%) were pain free or experienced mild pain for heavy work. Bone fusion or fibrous union was observed in 49 patients (64%) who were free of post-traumatic osteoarthritis; some improvement of which was observed in 11 other patients (14%) with less sclerotic bone. All patients but two resumed their occupational activities. DISCUSSION: Wedge osteotomy relieves pain and improves hand function by reducing the pressure applied to the radial and scaphoid joint surfaces. It acts positively in the event of post-traumatic arthritis, altering the dynamics of the wrist and producing the beneficial effects of styloidectomy. Although it was not the target, sound union of the pseudarthrosis observed in 25 patients at last follow-up was attributed to the applied treatment.

Wedge osteotomy of the lower end of the radius in the treatment of painful pseudarthrosis of the carpal scaphoid bone.

The present authors have had encouraging results in the treatment of painful pseudarthrosis of the carpal scaphoid bone using wedge osteotomy on the lower end of the radius. After the operation, patients experienced restoration of joint movement, less painful or pain-free joints, and, in a few cases, sound union of the established pseudarthrosis of the carpal scaphoid bone. Osteotomy is a simple procedure of short duration and is without complications. In addition, in cases of failure, osteotomy does not exclude other forms of therapy.

Variations of palmaris longus.

Although variations of palmaris longus muscle are described in anatomical text books, they are seen rather rarely in practice. Within the last five years of hand surgery we came across threee different cases of such variations described in the above text. We believe that every surgeon must be aware of them, since this, otherwise unimportant muscle, provides a very useful graft in tendon surgery.

Osteoid osteoma of the terminal phalanges.

Four cases of osteoid osteoma of the terminal phalanx--a very rare location--are presented. The clinical picture of cell cases is essentially the same, gradual swelling of the terminal phalanx with enlargement of the nail and pain, particularly at night and relievable by aspirin. The treatment was operative and of double value. 1. The osteoid osteoma is removed; 2. Cosmetic result is obtained by reduction of the size of the terminal phalanx.

Dorsal dislocation of the first metatarso-phalangeal joint. Report of four cases.

The anatomy of the first metatarso-phalangeal joint and of dorsal dislocation of the phalanx are described. As similar lesions in the hand, closed reduction is impossible because of interposition of the volar plate. Open reduction is essential and should be performed as soon as possible after the injury.