Abstract
Pathologies such as Scapho-Lunate Advanced Collapse (SLAC), Scaphoid Non-union Advanced Collapse (SNAC) and Kienbock's disease can lead to arthritis in the wrist. Depending on the articular surfaces that are involved, motion preserving surgical procedures can be performed. Proximal Row Carpectomy (PRC) and Four Corner Fusion (4CF) are tried and tested surgical options. However, prospective studies comparing the two methods looking at sufficient sample sizes are limited in the literature.
The purpose of this study was to prospectively compare the early results of PRC vs 4CF performed in a single centre.
Patients with wrist arthritis were prospectively enrolled (2015 to 2021) in a single centre in Vancouver, Canada. Thirty-six patients and a total of 39 wrists underwent either a PRC (n=18) or 4CF (n=21) according to pre-operative clinical, radiographical, and intra-operative assessment. Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE) scores were obtained preoperatively, as well as at six months and one year post operatively. Secondary outcomes were range of motion (ROM) of the wrist, grip strength, reoperation and complication rates. Statistical significance was set at p=0.05
Respectively for PRC and 4CF, the average PRWE scores at baseline were 61.64 (SD=19.62) and 63.67 (SD=20.85). There was significant improvement at the six-month mark to 38.81 (SD=22.95) (p=0.031) and 41.33 (SD=26.61) (p=0.007), then further improvement at the 12month mark to 33.11 (SD=23.42) (p=0.007) and 36.29 (SD=27.25) (p=0.002).
There was no statistical difference between the two groups at any time point.
Regarding ROM, statistical difference was seen in pronation for the PRC group at the 6month mark from an average of 72.18 deg to 61.56 deg and in flexion at the 12 month mark from 47.89 deg to 33.50 deg. All other parameters did not show statistically significant difference post operatively.
For ROM of the 4CF group, only flexion at the 12month mark showed statistically significant change from an average of 48.81 deg to 38.03 deg.
There was no statistical difference in pre-operative ROM between the two groups.
One patient in the 4CF group required a revision for delayed union, and three patients ended up with ulnar sided wrist pain.
Patients undergoing PRC and 4CF showed significant improvement in post operative PRWE scores, this reflects existing literature. For 4CF care must be taken to minimise ulnar sided wrist pain by relatively shortening the unar sided carpal column mass.
ROM analysis showed that patients lost some wrist flexion ROM post-operatively at the 12month mark with both PRC and 4CF. However, other ROM parameters were unchanged
