[Long-term outcome of Matti-Russe-plasty with special reference to late arthrotic damage of the wrist joint].

Corticocancellous grafting was considered the therapy of choice for treating scaphoid bone pseudarthrosis. However, there has been more criticism recently, since this method neither prevents nor stops arthrosis of the wrist in the long term. Ligamental damage with carpal instability often remains untreated. The malposition and shortening of the scaphoid bone also remains uncorrected. Fifty-five patients in who Matti-Russe reconstruction was carried out to treat schaphoid non-union were followed up. The inclusion criteria were that there had been no preoperative arthrosis and no previous operations. The mean period of observation was 10.7 years. The results of the clinical and radiological investigation were compared with the preoperative findings; in addition, there was a control group with untreated scaphoid non-union. It was shown that arthrosis is demonstrable in 69% of the operated patients; in the unoperated patients, this was the case in 95%. Carpal instability was present in 47.1% of the operated patients. However, it does not affect the development of arthrosis. The time interval between accident and operation is crucial for this. The results of this investigation indicate that scaphoid non-union should be treated as soon as possible even if it is asymptomatic.