Proximal row carpectomy in perilunate dislocations and lunatomalacia

Abstract

Proximal row carpectomy was performed in 13 wrists with old unreduced perilunate dislocations and in 4 wrists with Kienböck's disease. One failure was converted to wrist arthrodesis, and 2 patients were lost to follow-up. The remaining 14 patients were reexamined after 11 (3-19) years. Average ranges of wrist motion were 37° of dorsiflexion, 30° of palmar flexion, 5° of radial deviation, and 24° of ulnar deviation. Grip strength averaged two thirds of the uninvolved hand. Pain relief was achieved in 12 patients, who all returned to their previous occupations. The results according to Cooney's criteria were 1 good, 8 fair, and 5 poor.