Modified Sauve-Kapandji Procedure for Patients with Old Fractures of the Distal Radius

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical and radiographic outcomes of a modified Sauve-Kapandji procedure for patients with old fractures in the distal radius. METHODS: Fifteen patients (10 male and 5 female patients with an average age of 40 years old) were treated by the modified Sauve-Kapandji procedure from January 2014 to April 2016. All patients had undergone at least one previous operation on the involved wrist, and they were still suffering from pain and functional limitations at the time of admission. The postoperative follow-up period was 12-26 months and the average was 20 months. Functional assessment was made at the last follow-up. All patients were evaluated according a Modified Mayo Wrist Score system. RESULTS: Of the fifteen patients with posttraumatic arthritis, thirteen had excellent results, two had good results, and one had fair results. There were no major complications. CONCLUSIONS: The modified Sauve-Kapandji procedure is a safe and effective surgical alternative for intractable disorders of the distal radioulnar joint and can be recommended as a salvage procedure when previous treatments fail.