Twelve patients were studied following proximal-row carpectomy. Four had
a follow-up of twenty years or more. The lesions for which the operation
was done included Kienbock's disease, perilunar dislocations, and fractures
of the carpal scaphoid. The major complaint of pain was relieved following
surgery, and a functional range of motion was obtained. Mild degenerative
arthritis of the wrist was not a contraindication and progressive
degenerative arthritis of the radial capitate articulation did not occur.
The operation did not result in weakness and all of the patients resumed
their preoperative occupations. After conservative measures fail,
proximal-row carpectomy rather than arthrodesis should be considered for
disorders of the proximal row of carpal bones.