[Kirschner wire fixation in three joints combined with bone anchor repair for treatment of acute perilunate injury ].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effectiveness of Kirschner wire fixation in scapholunate joint, capitolunate joint, and lunotriquetral joint combined with bone anchor repair for the treatment of acute perilunate injury.

METHODS: Between January 2007 and January 2012, 35 cases of acute perilunate injury were treated. There were 30 males and 5 females with an average age of 45.5 years (range, 32-56 years). Fractures were caused by falling from height in 18 cases, by traffic accident in 11 cases, and by fall injury in 4 cases. The time from injury to operation was 2-6 days (mean, 3.4 days). There were 23 cases of trans-scaphoid perilunate dislocation, 10 cases of perilunate dislocation, and 2 cases of trans-triangular perilunate dislocation. Associated injuries included median nerve injury in 6 cases, radius styloid fracture in 8 cases, ulnar styloid fracture in 2 cases, and distal tibial fracture in 1 case. All the patients were treated by open reduction, Herbert screw fixation of scaphoid fractures, and Kirschner wire fixation in scapholunate joint, capitolunate joint, and lunotriquetral joint, and the intercarpal ligaments were repaired by Mitek bone anchor.

RESULTS: Superficial wound infection occurred in 2 cases, and primary healing of incision obtained in others. Thirty-five patients were followed up 12-35 months (mean, 18 months). X-ray films showed fracture union in 21 cases of scaphoid fractures, and bone nonunion in 2 cases of scaphoid fractures. During the follow-up period, there was no avascular necrosis ofscaphoid or lunate. At last follow-up, the scapholunate angle, radiolunate angle, and wrist range of motion (ROM) in extension had no significant difference between affected and unaffected sides (P > 0.05). The wrist ROM in flexion and grip strength of affected side were not up to the levels of unaffected side (P < 0.05). According to the modified Mayo wrist scoring system, the score was 79.9 ± 10.7, which were excellent in 8 cases, good in 17 cases, fair in 7 cases, and poor in 3 cases, and the excellent and good rate was 71.4%. The disability of arm-shoulder-hand (DASH) questionnaires score was 21 ± 10. Traumatic osteoarthritis was observed in 2 cases.

CONCLUSION: Kirschner wire fixation in scapholunate joint, capitolunate joint, and lunotriquetral joint combined with bone anchor repair for the treatment of acute perilunate injury can get early stability of the carpal joint, favorable intercarpal ligament repair, and good recovery of wrist joint function.