Long-term results of dorsal stabilization in the rheumatoid wrist.

Dorsal stabilization was performed on 85 rheumatoid wrist in 62 patients for an average follow-up of 6.8 years. Of these, 37 wrists were followed an average of 10 years. The chief component was pain in 79 of the wrists. Pain, on a scale of 0 to 100, showed a preoperative score of 32 and postoperative ratings of 89 for the total group and 96 for the long-term group. Range of motion decreased in virtually all patients. Spontaneous ankylosis occurred in eight wrists. Because of the presence of associated deformities, usually subluxated metacarpophalangeal joints, evaluation of functional improvement of the wrist was difficult. Those hands in which metacarpophalangeal subluxations were corrected or prevented showed maximum functional improvements. The procedure is beneficial for long-term relief of pain and maintenance of a range of motion which arthrodesis would eliminate.