Resection of the proximal row of carpal bones

One of the most promising directions in the surgical treatment of osteoarthritis of the wrist joint is the resection of the proximal row of carpal bones. Unlike total arthrodesis, this procedure preserves a certain range of motion, eliminates pain, and restores hand function. This surgical intervention also reduces the risk of possible nonunions observed in other types of operations and shortens the duration of postoperative immobilization. The authors studied the long-term results of surgical treatment in 43 patients who underwent this procedure over an eight-year period. Among the patients, there were 31 men and 12 women. The patients’ ages ranged from 25 to 69 years (average age: 50 years). Pathology of the right wrist joint was noted in 25 cases, and of the left wrist joint in 18 cases. Among the patients, 37 were engaged in light physical labor, 2 in heavy physical labor, and 4 were retirees. The causes of the pathology were as follows: scaphoid nonunion in 12 patients, scapholunate dissociation in 14, chronic perilunate dislocations in 4, Kienböck’s disease in 4, and gouty arthritis in 4 patients. In 5 cases, osteoarthritis developed against the background of previous chronic synovitis of unknown etiology. Satisfaction with the treatment outcome was excellent in 14 patients, good in 21, and satisfactory in 8. All working patients returned to their jobs without changing their working conditions, including two who used their hands for heavy physical activity.