Treatment of advanced Kienbock’s disease is challenging, and controversial. Palliative procedures should be chosen.

The goal of this study was to analyse the results of scaphocapitate arthrodesis with lunarectomy in advanced cases. Fourteen consecutive wrists in 13 patients were re-examined at a ranged follow-up of 31,7 months (range 3 to 103). Preoperative radiographs showed Lichtman stage 3a disease in 4 patients, stage 3b in 9 patients, and stage 4 in the last patient. Eight patients were women, and the involved wrist was the dominant in 8 cases. The age at operation averaged 36,6 years (range 24 to 55). Symptoms consisted in pain or pain with stiffness. Operative techniques consisted through a dorsal approach in excision of the dorsal interosseus nerve, lunarectomy, and scaphocapitate arthrodesis. Autologous bone graft was used in 8 cases, and osteosynthesis used K wires or staples. The wrists were immobilized in arm cast during 6 weeks, and rehabilitation was started. Postoperatively, one patient developed a complex regional pain syndrome.

At longest follow-up, patients were very satisfied in 8 cases, satisfied in 4, and poorly or not satisfied in 2 cases. Three wrists were painless, and only one wrist had no improvement. One wrist had no improvement. All the employed patients returned to their original work. Mean wrist motion increased slightly. Flexion increased from 33.3 to 33.9°, extension from 39.6 to 39.3°, ulnar deviation from 20 to 23.7°, and radial deviation from 18.8 to 17°. The arc of motion was useful (Flexion- Extension: 73.7° range, Pronation-Supination: 172.7°) Grip strength increased and reached 64.5% of the controlateral wrist. The mean gain was 5.6 Kg (+199%). The improvement was slow and very progressive over one year. On radiographs the arthrodeseses were consolidated in all cases, but the union seemed partial but asymptomatic in two wrists. Correction of scaphoid in flexion was difficult to obtain. No arthritis or degenerative changes were observed, but the distal radial epiphysis seemed to be reshuffled to the new joint and articular surfaces, with progressive disappearance of the radial lunar notch

Scaphocapitate arthrodesis associated with lunarectomy allows getting a painful and functional wrist. This simple procedure theoretically decreases load across the radiolunate joint, prevents further carpal collapse, and stabilizes the midcarpal joint.

Purpose of the study: Elbow dislocation is a frequent traumatic injury. Management is well described. An associated vascular lesion is exceptional, but must be searched for systematically. We report a short series and describe our therapeutic strategy for these complicated dislocations.

Material and methods: Between 1999 and 2004, our emergency unit cared for 357 cases of elbow dislocation. For six, injury to the brachial artery was present. This series included four men and one woman, mean age 34.7 years. The causal trauma was a traffic accident for four, and a fall four two. The dislocation was open in three. The radial pulse could not be palpated in any of the patients but blood supply to the hand persisted in five. There was a clinically detected neurological deficit in three. After obtaining the necessary x-rays, the elbows were reduced in the emergency room. The radial pulse remained impalpable in all patients and arteriography was performed and revealed a rupture of the brachial artery in five and an arterial spasm in one. Vascular repair was undertaken in all six cases using an reversed venous graft. The elbow was stabilized with an external fixator in three patients. For the others, the elbow was immobilized for 21 days on average before remobilization.

Results: AT 23 months follow-up, the overall outcome has been average with a Mayo clinic score of 69.2 points. Only four elbows were functional. Only one patient had a pain free elbow. Stiff joint was the most frequent functional impairment: mean flexion was 111.7° with a 41.7° extension deficit. The blood supply to the hand was correct in all cases, but one of the graft bridges became obstructed by a thrombus, the distal vascularization being supplied by the collateral circulation. The initial neurological lesions recovered partially.

Discussion: Elbow dislocation with vascular injury is exceptional but must be systematically detected. Emergency management associates reduction of the dislocation, a vascular work-up and rapid surgical management of the elbow, using an articulated external fixator when necessary, to limit as much as possible posttraumatic stiffness.