Excision of the Proximal Row of the Carpus.

The management of pain, stiffness and weakness of the wrist following unsuccessful conservative treatment of fractures of the scaphoid or of Kienb#{246}ck’s disease is a difficult problem. The result of excision of the affected bone is unpredictable and arthrodesis is a major procedure which leaves a disability. To avoid these disadvantages Stamm (1944) suggested arthroplasty of the wrist by excising the proximal row of the carpal bones, and the present review is a follow-up study ofpatients who have had thisoperation. The scaphoid, lunate and triquetral bones, and the radial styloid are removed through a mid-line incision on the dorsal surface of the wrist. Active but not passive exercises are begun after two weeks and rehabilitation takes about two to three months.