Open reduction and internal and external fixation combined with anchor repair of intercarpal ligament for the treatment of peripheral injury of lunate bone

Abstract

To evaluate the feasibility of internal and external fixation after open reduction combined with suture anchors to repair the intercarpal ligaments for the treatment of perilunate injury, and to explore its operative techniques and therapeutic efficacy. From September 2012 to September 2016, 11 patients with perilunate injury were surgically treated with Kirschner wires in intercarpal articulations, 3.0 mm cannulated screws for scaphoid fracture, absorbable anchor for intercarpal ligament repair, together with fixators at intercarpal joints, among whom 6 suffered from perilunate dislocations and 5 from trans-scaphoid fracture dislocations. There were 7 males and 4 females with an average age of 43.6 years old ranging from 29 to 68 years old. Scapho-lunate angle, radio-lunate angle, index of carpal height and ROM of the wrist were observed. All wounds were healed at stage I. All patients were followed up from 12 to 24 months. The height of the carpal was maintained well with a mean scapho-lunate angle of 51°(35° to 65°), mean radio-lunate angle of 7°(-10° to 15°), and mean index of carpal height being 0.51(0.50 to 0.53), 5 patients of scaphoid fracture obtained bone union. Necrosis of lunate and scaphoid was not observed. The ROM of the wrist averages about 91.5°. The grip strength was recovered and amounted to 78.5% of that of the contralateral side. Among them, 6 cases reported no feeling of pain, 3 mild feeling of pain, and 2 medium level of pain. According to Cooney wrist score, 8 cases were considered excellent, 2 good and 1 fair. The wrist functions can be obtained satisfactorily by intervening in the early stage through internal and external fixation after open reduction combined with suture anchors to repair intercarpal ligaments for the treatment of perilunate injury. It has advantages of shorter operation time, smaller invasive trauma, less blood loss and etc. Therefore, this technique is safe and practicable, yielding satisfying clinic effects.