Abstract
The BIAX total wrist prosthesis was first implanted 1983 by Beckenbaugh in the United
States. From a total of twenty-one BIAX-prostheses between March 2001 and February
2002, we have inserted eleven in patients for degenerative arthrosis, eight for posttraumatic
arthrosis and two for rheumatoid arthritis of the wrist. The average age of the patients
was 53.0 ± 10.7 years with a follow-up between eleven and fourteen months on an average
of one year. The motion of the operated joints was preserved on average. We have taken
pain as the main criterion for the success of the operation and distinguished between
pain at rest, in motion and under exertion. All patients showed a very good pain relief
of 5œ values from 6œ before to one after surgery on a scale from one to ten. Pain
relief is less under exertion, thus we are reserved with heavy workers of the implantation
of the prosthesis. Apart from that, the indication corresponds to the arthrodesis
of the wrist. The satisfaction of patients with the prosthesis is very high: 17 patients
declared it was much better, three declared it was better and only one patient said
it was unchanged. Complications occurred in six patients. The main complication was
the postoperative dislocation of the prosthesis in three patients. After repositioning,
the joints were long-term stable. The straight secured surgical technique is described
in detail. For the majority of patients with posttraumatic or degenerative arthrosis,
as well as with rheumatoid arthritis, the BIAX wrist prosthesis is recommended as
a first-time operation as an alternative to wrist arthrodesis due to pain relief with
preservation of joint motion and good acceptance among patients.
Key words
Prosthesis - replacement - arthroplasty - wrist - arthritis - arthrosis - arthrodesis
Literatur
friedbert.kretschmer@klinikum-lippe.de
