Abstract
The purpose of this case report was to look at the long-term (average 17.8 years)
results of total wrist arthroplasty. Of the 12 wrists (9 patients) available for evaluation,
7 wrists still had the arthroplasty in place whereas 5 wrists had been revised to
an arthrodesis. The average age at time of arthroplasty for those requiring an arthrodesis
was 17 years less than those not requiring an arthrodesis. This suggests that there
is a higher incidence of loosening when total wrist arthroplasty is performed in younger
patients, perhaps due to these younger patients having higher demands or having more
severe rheumatoid arthritis. In this younger population, the implant metacarpal stem
cut out in three wrists and ulnar drift occurred in two wrists. All patients said
that if given the chance, they would have a total wrist arthroplasty again, despite
their long-term results being poor and many of them being revised to a wrist arthrodesis.
Keywords
wrist arthroplasty - wrist - implants
