Arthroscopic Pisiform Excision in Pisotriquetral Osteoarthritis Technique Using a Direct Pisotriquetral Portal

Pisotriquetral (PT) joint arthritis is a common cause of ulnar-sided wrist pain. Open pisiform excision is a well-established procedure and is indicated when the conservative treatment fails. Although arthroscopic visualization of the PT joint is part of the routine examination in a patient with ulnar-sided wrist pain, therapeutic arthroscopy of the PT joint is limited to one case in the literature through the standard dorsal portals. Arthroscopic pisiform excision is a novel technique described by the authors. The first aim of this procedure is pain relief maintaining wrist stability and strength. With this minimally invasive approach we believe that preserving the flexor carpi ulnaris and the PT ligament complex we maintain their biomechanical function, while at the same time, reducing scar tenderness and postoperative discomfort with better esthetic results and less recovery time. In addition to standard dorsal portals, a direct PT portal was used to have access to the PT space and as a working portal to complete the pisiform excision.

Pisiform excision for refractory flexor carpi ulnaris tendinopathy of the wrist

The aim is to report the long-term clinical results after pisiform excision in patients with refractory flexor carpi ulnaris (FCU) tendinopathy. We performed pisiform excision in 14 patients with recalcitrant FCU tendinopathy, who had failed conservative treatment. Nine patients were followed-up for more than 2 years. Pre-operative pain visual analog scale (VAS) was extracted from the electronic medical records. Post-operative symptoms and function were assessed with pain VAS, quick disabilities of arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) score, patient rated wrist evaluation (PRWE) score, and satisfaction VAS for surgery at the final follow-up. After the mean follow-up period of 6 years, all patients showed improvement in pain VAS (from 5.9 to 1.2). The post-operative scores of quick DASH and PRWE were 3.5 and 13.1, respectively. Satisfaction VAS score was 8.8 and all patients returned to their work. Excision of the pisiform bone improved symptoms in patients with refractory FCU tendinopathy.

Avascular Necrosis of the Pisiform

Avascular necrosis of the pisiform bone is a very rare condition. This paper reports a case and discusses this pathology and its diagnosis.

The effect of pisiform excision on wrist function

PURPOSE

To investigate the effect of pisiform excision on wrist function compared with age- and sex-matched control subjects.

METHODS

The authors evaluated the charts of 11 consecutive patients who had undergone pisiform excision. Nine of these patients could be included and clinically examined, and results were compared with 9 matched controls. Measurements included range of motion, strength measurements, neurological examination, and questionnaires.

RESULTS

Extension in the operated wrist was reduced in patients compared with controls. The Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand and Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaires were significantly different between patients and controls. All other entities were equal between groups. Subjectively, patients experienced impairments in function of the operated wrist, but these could not be identified objectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Although great care must be taken in handling the surrounding soft tissue, pisiform excision is a well-tolerated, safe treatment for pain in the pisotriquetral joint resulting from arthrosis and not controlled by nonsurgical means.

TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic III.

Comparison of clinical results after pisiformectomy in patients with rheumatic versus posttraumatic osteoarthritis

Pisotriquetral osteoarthritis is important to consider in the differential diagnosis of chronic ulnar-sided wrist pain. It can develop following traumatic injury to the pisiform or in rheumatic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis or psoriatic arthritis. It has been shown that pisiformectomy can relieve symptoms in cases that have not responded to nonoperative treatment, and the excision does not compromise the function or strength of the wrist. Most studies focus on posttraumatic causes of pisotriquetral osteoarthritis. In the current study, rheumatic causes are also considered and the outcomes are compared. This retrospective study included 35 patients who underwent pisiformectomy for pisotriquetral osteoarthritis. All patients underwent a thorough diagnostic evaluation to exclude other etiologies for ulnar-sided wrist pain. Radiological examinations including posteroanterior and lateral views of the wrist and a tangential view of the pisotriquetral joint were analyzed. All patients had excellent or very good results after pisiformectomy, with a significant reduction in pain. No significant difference was found in the outcomes for patients with rheumatic vs posttraumatic osteoarthritis. Patients with rheumatic causes of pisotriquetral osteoarthritis can be successfully treated with pisiformectomy. With respect to idiopathic causes, these patients need a longer postoperative period to gain full pain relief. It is important to consider the possibility of pisotriquetral osteoarthritis after excluding other diagnoses in patients with rheumatic osteoarthritis.

Imaging and anatomic study of the pisiform bone/ulnar nerve relationship-evaluation of the preferred surgical approach for the excision of the pisiform bone

This study examines the role of the pisiform bone/ulnar nerve relationship in determining the preferred surgical approach for the excision of the pisiform bone. An anatomic dissection of Guyon's canal on 10 fresh frozen cadaver wrists evenly divided between males and females was combined with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of 10 volunteer wrists. The 3 reported data points include the axial images determined on the MRI, the anatomic dissection related to the proximity of the ulnar nerve relative to the pisiform in defined positions of the wrist and the soft tissue envelope that surrounds the pisiform, and the proximity of the ulnar nerve as recorded, measured, and analyzed. An analysis of variance of the recorded data points was performed and the statistical results were presented (P value of P 05). Dissection and the MRI scans determined that the soft tissue envelope between the pisiform and ulnar nerve at Guyon's canal with neutral dorsiflexion was 2.5 mm. Palmar flexion was 3.0 mm and neutral flexion was 4.5 mm. The thinnest area was adjacent to the ulnar nerve proper on the volar radial aspect of the pisiform, on the basis of clock-faced analysis, between the 3 : 00 and 6 : 00 positions (the pisiform as a circle). The proximity of the pisiform in relation to the ulna and the limit of the soft tissue envelope would suggest that the preferred surgical approach, or that least likely to cause injury to the ulnar nerve, is one that is volar and includes excising the pisiform after exposing Guyon's canal.

Pisiform impingement after total wrist arthroplasty

We present a 64-year-old woman with rheumatoid arthritis who developed increasing pain 3 years after a total wrist arthroplasty. The pain was localized over the ulnar side of the wrist secondary to erosion of the pisiform. Pisiform excision resulted in a resolution of the symptoms. When placing a carpal component, which includes a base plate as part of its design, care should be taken to avoid any overhang of the implant edge into the pisotriquetral joint.

Pisotriquetral arthrosis after triquetral malunion: a case report

We report a patient with chronic ulnar palmar wrist pain caused by malunion after isolated fracture of the triquetrum. Intra-articular malunion of the triquetrum body resulted in posttraumatic pisotriquetral arthrosis. The diagnosis was made by magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, bone scintigraphy, and wrist arthroscopy 5 months after the injury. The patient's symptoms were relieved by excision of the pisiform.

Pisotriquetral arthrodesis as an alternative to excision for pisotriquetral instability in high-demand patients: a case report in a gymnast

A gymanast developed ulnar wrist pain caused by pisotriquetral instability. Pisotriquetral arthrodesis resulted in pain relief and sufficient functional return to allow her to return to gymnastics. Pisotriquetral arthrodesis is a feasible alternative to pisiform excision worth consideration in high-demand patients with symptomatic pisotriquetral instability or arthrosis.

TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic, Level V.

A variant of Kaplan's accessory branch of the dorsal cutaneous branch of the ulnar nerve: a case report and review of the literature

Kaplan's accessory branch is an aberrant branch of the dorsal cutaneous branch of the ulnar nerve that arises proximal to the styloid process of the ulna and courses ulnar to the pisiform. Variations of this anomaly have been described as having an end point of connection to the sensory branch of the ulnar nerve, to the motor branch of the ulnar nerve (rare), to the digital nerve at the level of the midhypothenar eminence, or to the proximal interphalangeal joint of the small finger or as running as an independent branch to the volar aspect of the small finger. We report a variant of Kaplan's accessory branch that coursed through the insertion of the flexor carpi ulnaris, a groove on the ulnar aspect of the pisiform, and connected to the ulnar nerve trunk proximal to its bifurcation into its motor and sensory branch. Based on the findings of the case presented and a review of the literature we offer a classification system for this anomaly.