Outcome after repair of the scapholunate interosseous ligament and dorsal capsulodesis for dynamic scapholunate instability due to trauma.

PURPOSE: To retrospectively assess outcomes in 17 patients treated with scapholunate (SL) interosseous ligament repair and capsulodesis for dynamic SL instability due to trauma.

METHODS: A retrospective review of 17 consecutive patients included clinical and radiographic examinations to determine outcome after SL interosseous ligament repair and dorsal capsulodesis. The average age at the time of surgery was 36 years, and the postoperative follow-up period averaged 66 months. Outcome measures included the Mayo wrist evaluation system and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire scores. Pain complaints were measured on a 10-point visual analog scale.

RESULTS: Preoperative and postoperative measurements, respectively, for all patients were obtained as follows: SL gap, 2 versus 3 mm; stress views of the SL gap, 3 versus 4 mm; SL angle, 49 degrees versus 54 degrees ; capitolunate angle, 4 degrees versus 7 degrees . Grip strength was 82% of the uninjured side at the final follow-up evaluations. Pain averaged a 3 out of 10 before and after surgery. Surgery was completed an average of 22 weeks from injury. Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire scores averaged 31, indicating wrist impairment. Three patients developed degenerative changes noted on postoperative x-rays. When patients were evaluated based on daily job requirements (strenuous vs nonstrenuous) there were statistically significant differences. Nonstrenuous job requirements had lower pain scores; better Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire scores; better Mayo outcomes; better grip strength; and decreased SL gap on stress views. Flexion and extension of the wrist were better in the nonstrenuous group but did not reach statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONS: Prior reports evaluating patients for SL ligament repair appeared to be favorable in short-term (1- to 2-y) follow-up periods. In the present report, for patients followed up for an average of 66 months after surgery, the results, clinically and radiographically, appear to deteriorate in those who place high demands on the wrists on a daily basis. Although the numbers in the present study are small, they indicate that SL ligament repair with dorsal capsulodesis may have a place for patients who have normal preoperative static unloaded x-rays and sufficient ligament for repair and who do not place high demands on the wrists on a daily basis. The ideal procedure for this difficult problem continues to remain elusive.

TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic IV.