Surgical treatment for Müller-Weiss disease

Abstract

Objective To evaluate surgical treatment of Muller-Weiss disease. Methods From December 2008 to December 2013, 9 cases of Muller-Weiss disease were treated at our department with arthrodesis of the scaphoid joint and internal fixation. They were 2 males and 7 females, 32 to 60 years of age (average, 42 years). According to the Maceira classification, there were one case of phase 2, 4 cases of phase 3, 3 cases of phase 4, and one case of phase 5. Six cases received arthrodesis of the talo-naviculo-cuneiform joints, 2 cases arthrodesis of the talonavicular joint and one case triple arthrodesis. Results The 9 patients were followed up for 12 to 18 months (average, 15.8 months). Pain and inter-mittent claudication disappeared in all the patients. The bony fusion was achieved in all the affected feet after 12 to 17 months (average, 14.6 months). The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot scores at one year post-surgery averaged 80 points. One foot was excellent, 7 feet were good, and the other foot was fair. At one year post-surgery, the foot length (15.5±0.8 cm), arch height (18.6±0.9 mm), and medial longitudinal foot arch (119.2°±6.4°) were significantly improved compared with those before surgery (14.3±0.9 cm, 10.2±0.7 mm and 136.5°±7.8°, respectively)(P<0.05). Conclusion Surgical treatment of Muller-Weiss disease, according to preoperative and intraoperative evaluations of the scaphoid bone and related injury, may achieve satisfactory outcomes. Key words: Scaphoid bone; Avascular necrosis of bone; Adult; Surgical procedures, oper-ative