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Background Recalcitrant nonunion following total wrist arthrodesis is a rare but challenging problem. Most commonly, in the setting of failed fusion after multiple attempts of refixation and cancellous bone grafting, the underlying cause for the failure is invariably multifactorial and is often associated with a range of host issues in addition to poor local soft-tissue and bony vascularity. The vascularized medial femoral condyle corticoperiosteal (MFC-CP) flap has been shown to be a viable option in a variety of similar settings, which provides vascularity and rich osteogenic progenitor cells to a nonunion site, with relatively low morbidity. While its utility has been described for many other anatomical locations throughout the body, its use for the treatment of failed total wrist fusions has not been previously described in detail in the literature. Methods In this article, we outline in detail the surgical technique for MFC-CP flap for the management of recalcitrant aseptic nonunions following failed total wrist arthrodesis. We discuss indications and contraindications, pearls and pitfalls, and potential complications of this technique. Results Two illustrative cases are presented of patients with recalcitrant nonunions following multiple failed total wrist fusions. Conclusion When all avenues have been exhausted, a free vascularized corticoperiosteal flap from the MFC is a sound alternative solution to achieve union, especially when biological healing has been compromised. We have been able to achieve good clinical outcomes and reliable fusion in this difficult patient population.

Objective This study reports on the clinical outcomes of double screw fixation with autologous cancellous bone grafting and early active range of motion for delayed and nonunited scaphoid waist fractures with cavitary segmental bone loss. Patients and Methods Twenty-one consecutive patients underwent fixation using two 2.2 mm antegrade headless compression screws with autologous distal radius cancellous bone graft. Postoperatively, patients were allowed early active motion with a resting splint until union was achieved. Patients were reviewed radiologically and clinically to assess for fracture union, complications, residual pain, wrist function, and return to work and recreational activities. Results All but one patient was male, and the mean age was 23 years (range, 15–38 years). The average time from initial injury was 16 months (range, 3–144 months). Nineteen of 21 (90.5%) patients achieved union at a mean of 2.8 months (range, 1.4–9.2 months). Of the patients who failed, one underwent revision surgery with vascularized bone grafting at 10.6 months. The other patient refused further intervention as he was asymptomatic. Conclusion Double-screw fixation with bone grafting and early active range of motion is a safe and effective technique for management of delayed and nonunited unstable scaphoid fractures with cavitary bone loss. This potentially allows for earlier return to function, without compromise to union rates. Level of Evidence This is a Level IV, retrospective case series study.

The medial femoral trochlea (MFT) of the knee is a donor site for convex osteochondral vascularized bone that has been used for the salvage of fractures of the proximal pole of the scaphoid. Chronic nonunited fractures of the scaphoid may lead to a sequence of degenerative change often referred to as scaphoid nonunion advance collapse. The vascularized MFT osteochondral graft has been reported as a salvage procedure for fractures of the proximal pole of the scaphoid, in situations where fixation is not an option. In this “Special review,” we describe the technique of free vascularized MFT graft in a case in which the nonunited scaphoid fracture was associated with segmental loss of the articular surface of the scaphoid waist. Given the likely progression of arthritis, if left untreated, we elected to treat this by replacing the lost articular surface using a vascularized intercalary osteochondral MFT graft between the nonunited scaphoid segments.

Purpose This study aims to compare the outcomes and complications of our technique for nonspanning total wrist arthrodesis using a locking plate with the standard carpometacarpal spanning technique. Methods A retrospective review of charts was performed to identify patients who underwent total wrist arthrodesis by the senior author (S.W.W.). We compared the outcomes of 15 cases of nonspanning wrist fusion with a 2.4/2.7 mm locking T plate to 11 cases of spanning wrist fusion with a 2.7/3.5 mm locking compression plate. Minimum follow-up was 3 months. Indications for fusion included rheumatoid arthritis, posttraumatic arthritis, Kienböck's disease, primary osteoarthritis, juvenile inflammatory arthropathy, psoriasis, brachial plexopathy, failed hemi or total wrist arthroplasty, failed four-corner fusion, and failed proximal row carpectomy. The primary outcome was fusion. Secondary outcomes included time to union, patient-rated wrist evaluation score, numerical rating scale pain score, grip strength, and complications. Results All the wrists got fused. There were no significant differences in objective and subjective outcomes between cohorts. There were three complications (27%) in the spanning group, including tendon rupture and peri-implant fracture at the third metacarpal. This was compared with three complications (20%) in the nonspanning group, consisting of hardware removal. Discussion We achieved similar fusion rates employing both spanning and nonspanning total wrist arthrodesis techniques, without necessitating carpometacarpal arthrodesis in the latter. Complications associated with our method were comparably less severe than those reported in the literature. We advocate nonspanning arthrodesis as an alternative method for total wrist fusion with a high union rate and minimal risk of complications at the carpometacarpal joint. Level of Evidence Therapeutic level IV.