Biaxial total wrist arthroplasty in rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: To judge the outcome of total wrist arthroplasty.

Design: A retrospective study of 13 patients.

Setting: A university hospital.

Patients: Seventeen patients with stage III or IV rheumatoid arthritis of the wrist. Only 13 patients were studied because 3 died and 1 was lost to follow-up.

Intervention: Biaxial total wrist arthroplasty (15 procedures).

Main Outcome Measures: Clinical assessment and the Hospital for Special Surgery scoring system and radiologic review.

Results: Good or excellent results were achieved in all patients after an average follow-up of 54 months.

Conclusion: Biaxial total wrist arthroplasty is a reasonable treatment in rheumatoid patients when preservation of wrist motion is critical.