Ligamentoplasty in scapholunate instability: short-term results of the "all dorsal scapholunate repair" technique.

Injury to the scapholunate complex is the cause of scapholunate instability which can lead to radiocarpal and medio-carpal osteoarthritis. Several ligamentoplasty techniques have been reported for the treatment of chronic scapholunate instability before the osteoarthritis stage. The objective of this study was to assess the short-term results of an "all dorsal scapholunate repair" ligamentoplasty. We report the clinical, radiological and functional results of a retrospective study including 21 patients, operated between June 2019 and December 2020 for a stage 3 or 4 scapholunate instability according to the Garcia Elias classification. With a follow-up of 14.2 months, the pain was 0.1/10 according to the VAS at rest and 4/10 during exercise. Wrist strength was measured at 65% of the opposite side. The flexion-extension range of motion was 105°. Radiologically, there was a reduction of the diastasis and scapholunate angle. Osteolysis areas around the anchors were described in 47% of patients. The mean QuickDASH was 29.2/100, PRWE 24/100 and Mayo wrist score 67.8/100. Eighty-one percent of patients were satisfied. Seventeen patients had returned to work 5.2 months postoperatively. In the case of work-related injury, the functional scores were poorer, with a delayed return to work. This technique provides encouraging results in the short term. Most patients were improved compared to preoperative state. The work-related injury appears to be a poor prognostic factor. A longer-term study is imperative to confirm the maintenance over time of the correction of carpal malalignment and the evolution of the osteolysis areas.Level of evidence: Level IV Retrospective study.

Comparison of proximal row carpectomy with RCPI® versus proximal row carpectomy with Eaton's capsular interposition in the management of advanced wrist osteoarthritis.

INTRODUCTION: Proximal row carpectomy (PRC) is one of the recommended techniques for managing wrist osteoarthritis, it implies the integrity of the lunate fossa of the radius and the proximal pole of the capitate. If PRC is not possible, it is suggested to consider combining it with a capsule interposition (such as Eaton's flap) or opting for intra- or radiocarpal arthrodesis. Another alternative is to combine capitate resurfacing with a pyrocarbon implant (RCPi®). The aims of this study was to assessed the results between proximal PRC+Eaton and those associated PRC+RCPi® for advanced wrist osteoarthritis. HYPOTHESIS: We hypothesized that there would be no differences in clinical or functional outcome between proximal row carpectomy associated with RCPI® and those associated with Eaton capsular flap. MATERIAL AND METHODS: It is a monocentric, retrospective, multi-operator study involving 83 wrists with osteoarthritis, included between January 2000 and December 2020 with a minimum follow-up period of 12 months. Thirty-nine patients underwent PRC+Eaton and 44 patients underwent RCPI® resurfacing. Data such as pain, flexion, extension and strength as well as functional scores (PRWE, Mayo and quick DASH) were collected from the patient files at the last check-up. RESULTS: Results were comparable between the two groups in terms pain (VAS), mobility (flexion and extension), strength (GRASP) and functional scores (PRWE, Mayo and quick DASH). Carpal height was better preserved in the PRC+RCPI® group, with a Youm and McMurtry index evaluated at 0.3 in the PRC+Eaton group compared to 0.4 in the PRC+RCPI® group (p-value<0.001). Radiocarpal arthrodesis was required in 16% of the PRC+Eaton group and 6.8% of the PRC+RCPI® group, with a statistically significant difference (p-value=0.023). DISCUSSION: This study reports clinical and functional results that suggest RCPI® is an interesting alternative and can be associated with proximal row carpectomy in advanced wrist osteoarthritis. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV; retrospective study.