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. 2022 Jan;17(1):114-118.
doi: 10.1177/1558944719898817. Epub 2020 Feb 1.

Unplanned Reoperation and Implant Revision After Total Wrist Arthroplasty

Taylor M Pong  1 , Wouter F van Leeuwen  1 , Kamil Oflazoglu  1 , Philip E Blazar  1 , Neal Chen  1
Affiliations

Unplanned Reoperation and Implant Revision After Total Wrist Arthroplasty

Taylor M Pong et al. Hand (N Y). 2022 Jan.

Abstract

Background: Total wrist arthroplasty (TWA) is a treatment option for many debilitating wrist conditions. With recent improvements in implant design, indications for TWA have broadened. However, despite these improvements, there are still complications associated with TWA, such as unplanned reoperation and eventual implant removal. The goal of this study was to identify risk factors for an unplanned reoperation or implant revision after a TWA at 2 academic medical centers between 2002 and 2015. Methods: In this retrospective study, 24 consecutive TWAs were identified using CPT codes. Medical records were manually reviewed to identify demographic, patient- or disease-related, and surgery-related risk factors for reoperation and implant removal after a primary TWA. Results: Forty-six percent of wrists (11 of 24 TWAs performed) had a reoperation after a median of 3.4 years, while 29% (7 of 24) underwent implant revision after a median of 5 years. Two patients had wrist surgery prior to their TWA, both eventually had their implant removed (P = .08). There were no risk factors associated with reoperation or implant removal. Conclusion: Unplanned reoperation and implant removal after a primary TWA are common. Approximately 1 in 3 wrists are likely to undergo revision surgery. We found no factors associated with reoperation or implant removal; however, prior wrist surgery showed a trend toward risk of implant removal after TWA.

Keywords: TWA; arthritis; diagnosis; reoperation; revision surgery; rheumatoid arthritis; total wrist arthroplasty; wrist salvage.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflicting Interests: The author(s) declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Each author certifies that he has no commercial associations (eg, consultancies, stock ownership, equity interest, patent/licensing arrangements, etc.) or financial remunerations that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted article. Dr. Chen is a consultant for Miami Device Solutions. Massachusetts General Hospital receives fellowship support from OMeGA, Skeletal Dynamics, and Acumed and research support from Acumed, DePuy Synthes, and AO International.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Kaplan-Meier survival curve.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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