Wrist arthrodesis in rheumatoid arthritis. A comparison of two methods of fusion

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Howard AC. Stanley D. Getty CJ. Journal of Hand Surgery. [JC:ire] 18(3):377-80, 1993 Jun. 17 wrists were arthrodesed in 13 patients with severe wrist disease due to rheumatoid arthritis. Eight fusions in seven patients were carried out using a radial sliding bone graft technique whilst nine fusions in nine patients were undertaken using a third tubular AO plate. Subjective, objective and radiological assessments confirmed the efficacy of both methods but indicated a shorter period of post-operative immobilization for patients treated using the AO plate fixation technique. The importance of this is discussed.