Imaging of the Hand and Wrist

Lunate bone excision and scaphocapitate arthrodesis in late stages of Kienböck's disease: a long-term prospective study

PURPOSE

This study aims to evaluate the outcomes of scaphocapitate arthrodesis with lunate excision in patients with stage IIIB and IIIC Kienböck's disease.

METHOD

Between September 2013 and April 2024, 106 consecutive patients were screened, with 64 consenting to participate. Final analysis included 56 patients (32 stage IIIB and 24 stage IIIC) who underwent scaphocapitate arthrodesis with lunate excision, utilizing distal radius bone grafting stabilized by Herbert compression screws. Preoperative and postoperative assessments (6, 18, 36, and 84 months) included VAS score for pain, ROM, grip strength, MMWS, PRWE scores, and radiographic evaluations including RS angle, CHR, CUDR, and ulnar variance.

RESULTS

The mean operative time was 75 ± 11 min, and the average follow-up was 86 ± 2.5 months. The union rate was 91% with a mean time to union of 10 ± 2 weeks. Preoperative mean VAS scores (63 ± 4 mm) significantly decreased to 25 ± 9 mm at 6 months and 12 ± 4 mm at 36 months (p = 0.001), with a slight increase to 22 ± 5 mm at 84 months. ROM improved from 46% ± 9% of the healthy side preoperatively to 59% ± 3.2% at 36 months (p = 0.001) but slightly decreased to 58% ± 3% at 84 months. Grip strength improved from 48% ± 8% preoperatively to 89% ± 6.4% at 36 months (p = 0.001) and remained stable at 88% ± 4% at 84 months. The mean MMWS increased from 46 ± 7 to 75 ± 5 (p = 0.001), while PRWE scores decreased from 68 ± 8 to 23 ± 6 (p = 0.001). The mean RS angle decreased from 59° ± 8° preoperatively to 50° ± 3° at 36 months (p = 0.001). There was no significant change in CHR (0.44 ± 0.04 to 0.46 ± 0.03, p = 0.251), while CUDR decreased from 31 ± 3 mm to 25 ± 2 mm (p = 0.021). Ulnar variance remained stable (p = 0.325). Degenerative changes were noted in 13 patients (23%) at the RS joint, with six showing Grade I, 5 Grade II, and 1 Grade III degeneration. Additionally, 5 patients (9%) exhibited changes at the STT joint, comprising three with Grade I and 2 with Grade II degeneration.

CONCLUSION

Scaphocapitate arthrodesis with lunate excision can improves pain, ROM, grip strength, and functional scores in patients with stage IIIB and IIIC Kienböck's disease. Over time, improvements in VAS scores and functional metrics were notable, though there was a slight decline in pain relief and ROM at 84 months. These changes are critical to understanding the potential degenerative complications, particularly at the RS joint, where some patients developed osteoarthritis.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level II.

Scaphocapitate arthrodesis with lunate preservation for Kienböck's disease: prospective outcomes study

PURPOSE

The study evaluated the efficacy of SC arthrodesis with lunate preservation for treating patients diagnosed with stage IIIB or IIIC Kienböck's disease, who also exhibit neutral ulnar variance. The study further aimed to explore potential variations in outcomes between patients diagnosed with stage IIIB and IIIC Kienböck's disease.

METHODS

Thirty-two patients diagnosed with stage IIIB (n = 19) and stage IIIC (n = 13) Kienböck's disease underwent SC arthrodesis with distal radius bone grafting stabilised by Herbert compression screws. All participants underwent pre- and post-operative assessments including VAS score for pain, ROM, grip strength, MMWS, and the Quick DASH score. Additionally, RS angle, LHI ratio, and CHI ratio were assessed.

RESULTS

For all patients, the mean operative time was 73 min, follow-up was 45.6 months, time to union was 14 weeks, and time to full return to work was 24 weeks. The rate of union at the arthrodesis site was 91% (29 out of 32 patients) whilst the incidence of postoperative degenerative arthritis was 36% (8 out of 32 patients). Regarding changes in the means of outcomes from pre- to post-operatively, the VAS score decreased from 8.2 to 1.3 and grip strength improved from 36 to 79%. The RS angle was corrected from 59° to 50°. Significant improvements were noted in the mean MMWS from 45 to 75 and QuickDASH score from 78 to 21. However, no significant changes were observed in ROM, LHI, and CHI. There were no significant differences between patients with stage IIIB and stage IIIC in terms of these parameters, except for differences observed in the RS angle, LHI, and CHI preoperatively and in LHI and CHI postoperatively.

CONCLUSION

Evidence level: II. Our research demonstrates that SC arthrodesis is a valuable approach for reducing pain, improving grip strength, and enhancing overall function in individuals with advanced Kienböck's disease. Importantly, our results indicate no notable differences in outcomes between patients diagnosed with stage IIIB or IIIC Kienböck's disease.

Detection of scapholunate interosseous ligament injury using dynamic computed tomography-derived arthrokinematics: A prospective clinical trial

Scapholunate interosseous ligament injuries are a major cause of wrist instability and can be difficult to diagnose radiographically. To improve early diagnosis of scapholunate ligament injuries, we compared injury detection between bilateral routine clinical radiographs, static CT, and dynamic four-dimensional CT (4DCT) during wrist flexion-extension and radioulnar deviation. Participants with unilateral scapholunate ligament injuries were recruited to a prospective clinical trial investigating the diagnostic utility of 4DCT imaging for ligamentous wrist injury. Twenty-one participants underwent arthroscopic surgery to confirm scapholunate ligament injury. Arthrokinematics, defined as distributions of interosseous proximities across radioscaphoid and scapholunate articular surfaces at different positions within the motion cycle, were used as CT-derived biomarkers. Preoperative radiographs, static CT, and extrema of 4DCT were compared between uninjured and injured wrists using Wilcoxon signed rank or Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests. Median interosseous proximities at the scapholunate interval were significantly greater in the injured versus the uninjured wrists at static-neutral and maximum flexion, extension, radial deviation, and ulnar deviation. Mean cumulative distribution functions at the radioscaphoid joint were not significantly different between wrists but were significantly shifted at the scapholunate interval towards increased interosseous proximities in injured versus uninjured wrists in all positions. Median and cumulative distribution scapholunate proximities from static-neutral and 4DCT-derived extrema reflect injury status.

ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Chronic Hand and Wrist Pain: 2023 Update

Chronic hand and wrist pain is a common presenting complaint. The intricate anatomy results in a variety of pain generators-multiple bones, articular cartilage, intrinsic ligaments, triangular fibrocartilage complex, joint capsules and synovium, tendons and tendon sheaths, muscles, and nerves-in a compact space. The need for imaging and the choice of the appropriate imaging modality are best determined by the patient's presentation, physical examination, and the clinician's working differential diagnosis. Radiography is usually appropriate as the initial imaging study in the evaluation of chronic hand or wrist pain. The American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed annually by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and revision process support the systematic analysis of the medical literature from peer reviewed journals. Established methodology principles such as Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation or GRADE are adapted to evaluate the evidence. The RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method User Manual provides the methodology to determine the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures for specific clinical scenarios. In those instances where peer reviewed literature is lacking or equivocal, experts may be the primary evidentiary source available to formulate a recommendation.

Evaluation of Scapholunate Injury and Repair with Dynamic (4D) CT: A Preliminary Report of Two Cases

Background  In predynamic or dynamic scapholunate (SL) instability, standard diagnostic imaging may not identify SL interosseous ligament (SLIL) injury, leading to delayed detection and intervention. This study describes the use of four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) in identifying early SLIL injury and following injured wrists to 1-year postoperatively. Description of Technique  4DCT acquires a series of three-dimensional volume data with high temporal resolution (66 ms). 4DCT-derived arthrokinematic data can be used as biomarkers of ligament integrity. Patients and Methods  This study presents the use of 4DCT in a two-participant case series to assess changes in arthrokinematics following unilateral SLIL injury preoperatively and 1-year postoperatively. Patients were treated with volar ligament repair with volar capsulodesis and arthroscopic dorsal capsulodesis. Arthrokinematics were compared between uninjured, preoperative injured, and postoperative injured (repaired) wrists. Results  4DCT detected changes in interosseous distances during flexion-extension and radioulnar deviation. Generally, radioscaphoid joint distances were greatest in the uninjured wrist during flexion-extension and radioulnar deviation, and SL interval distances were smallest in the uninjured wrist during flexion-extension and radioulnar deviation. Conclusion  4DCT provides insight into carpal arthrokinematics during motion. Distances between the radioscaphoid joint and SL interval can be displayed as proximity maps or as simplified descriptive statistics to facilitate comparisons between wrists and time points. These data offer insight into areas of concern for decreased interosseous distance and increased intercarpal diastasis. This method may allow surgeons to assess whether (1) injury can be visualized during motion, (2) surgery repaired the injury, and (3) surgery restored normal carpal motion. Level of Evidence  Level IV, Case series.

Wrist and Hand Trauma Imaging

Injuries to the wrist and hands occur frequently in athletes from the high forces applied during sporting events. The examples presented illustrate the important role imaging has in the diagnosis of wrist and hand injuries. In addition, different imaging modalities are complementary and various examinations may be needed to help guide the management of wrist and hand traumatic pathology.