Laboratory evidence has shown that tears within the substance of the triangular fibro-cartilaginous complex (TFCC) of the wrist are caused by shear and/or compressive forces rather that by distraction. They are commonly associated with ulnocarpal abutment syndrome (UCAS). A number of different methods of treatment have been advocated for UCAS but no satisfactory comparison of these has been reported.

To compare the results of different forms of treatment for UCAS. The notes of 76 patients who had undergone wrist arthroscopy for UCAS were reviewed independently. The diagnoses made at the time of the arthroscopies and any surgical interventions (shaving the torn TFCC back to stable tissue, wafer resection of the ulnar head, repair of the TFCC) that were made at the same time were recorded. The results of these interventions were noted, as were any subsequent surgical procedures for persisting pain. These results were compared with those of a meta- analysis of the results for similar procedures published in the literature.

All 76 patients had TFCC tears, four were repaired arthroscopically and the remainder underwent debridement. Nineteen of these had, in addition, arthroscopic wafer procedures carried out. Of the 53 who had only debridement 63% were graded as good or excellent. The remainder underwent formal ulnar recessions and 93% of these improved and were graded as good or excellent. Of the 19 who had wafer procedures 53% were graded as good or excellent. Seven (36%) of this group underwent ulnar recessions with five (66%) improving to be graded as good or excellent. There were no major complications such as infection, nonunion or failure of the internal fixation. Of the four cases in which the TFCCs were repaired arthroscopically, three were graded as good or excellent. One remained the same and underwent and ulnar recession and improved to be graded as good.

From the meta-analysis 72% of patients who were treated by debridement alone were graded as good or excellent, while 66% were good or excellent after debridement combined with a wafer procedure. The patients who were treated by ulnar recession had a larger proportion of good or excellent results with 92% reaching this level of satisfaction. From these results it was concluded that arthroscopic debridement of tears of the TFCC was effective treatment in a majority of patients. The arthroscopic wafer procedure was effective as long as adequate bone was resected. Persisting symptoms of UCAS were very adequately treated by ulnar recession.

This study reviews the results of the treatment of non-union of fractures of the scaphoid by the use of micro-surgical, vascular pedicle grafts (VPG). The indications for VPG included long-standing non-union of a fracture of the scaphoid, avascular necrosis of the proximal pole and failed conventional grafting. The contraindications were periscaphoid degenerative changes (scaphoid non-union advanced collapse) and vascular damage from previous surgery. The technique in each involved harvesting a vascularised bone graft from the distal radius based on a vascular pedicle with retrograde flow from one of a number of described vessels that constitute the vascular plexus over the carpus. The scaphoid was prepared to receive an inlay graft and then the graft was positioned and its stability was determined. Some were secured with a single 0.7mm diameter Kirschner wire. The wrist was then immobilised in a plaster cast until either the fracture had healed or it was evident that the procedure had failed to result in union.

Fourteen patients have undergone VPG over 30 months. Of these eight have healed (four fractures of the waist and four of the proximal poles), four have failed (one waist and three proximal poles) and two are still in plaster casts. The mean time to healing was 20.6 weeks (range: 12.7–28.7 weeks). Of the eight that healed, seven were aged between 21 and 27 years. The four failures were aged between 34 and 44 years. The mean time since the fracture in the healed group was 2.9 years (range: 1.2 years to five years) and in the failed group it was 6.5 years (range: two years to 20 years). The first failure was related to deep infection and a subsequent Matte-Russe procedure has also failed. In the second failure the graft healed to the distal pole but the very small proximal pole collapsed resulting in a wrist arthrodesis. The graft in the third failure healed to the distal pole but failed to unite with the small proximal pole. No further treatment has been planned. The fourth failure was a non-union of the waist of 20 years standing. The graft became dislodged from the scaphoid but no further surgery has been carried out. One of the successful unions had a poor result because of degeneration in the scaphoid-trapezoid-trapezium (STT) joint secondary to damage done at the time of previous surgery (Herbert screw). A successful STT arthrodesis was done subsequently.

VPG is technically challenging. Careful patient selection is vital as is preoperative planning and vessel selection. VPG can be used successfully to salvage obstinate non-unions of fractures of the scaphoid.