Salvage for failed implant arthroplasty of the wrist.

We have had to revise 19 wrist arthroplasties--seven silicone implants and 12 metal-on-plastic total wrist arthroplasties. Each of the seven silicone implants was successfully revised in one operation; the four fusions and three total wrist implants were functioning 6 or more years after surgery. Nineteen operations were needed to revise the total wrist implants. Four had failed because of loosening, six had become unbalanced, and two had become infected. All of the loose prostheses eventually required fusion. Four of the unbalanced wrists were rebalanced, but two of these patients have pain; the other two cases required fusion. One infected wrist required fusion, and one is stable with an implant.