Pisiformectomy in advanced pisotriquetral joint arthritis: A retrospective study of 12 wrists with a mean follow-up of 7.5 years.

Pisiformectomy is the gold standard treatment for pisotriquetral arthritis resistant to conservative treatment. We evaluated the long-term clinical and functional outcomes after pisiformectomy in resistant pisotriquetral arthritis cases. We retrospectively evaluated 11 patients (12 wrists), mean age of 59 years (49-69) treated by pisiformectomy using a standardized surgical technique. Pisiformectomy was performed for primary osteoarthritis in 10 cases, for post-traumatic osteoarthritis in 1 case and for pisotriquetral instability in 1 case. The clinical and functional evaluation was carried out by an independent examiner. Mean time to review was 90 months (63-151). Pain on a Visual Analog Scale (/10) decreased significantly to 1.1 from 6.8 preoperatively. Mean range of motion was 79° in flexion, 61.5° in extension, 18° in ulnar deviation and 36° in radial deviation. Mean grip strength of the operated wrist was 86% of the non-operated wrist. Functional scores significantly improved with a gain of 40 points for the QuickDASH and 53 points for the PRWE. Based on this long-term follow-up study, pisiformectomy seems to alleviate wrist pain and improve the quality of life in a low-demand population with pisotriquetral osteoarthritis resistant to conservative treatment. When compared to the pisotriquetral arthrodesis, pisiformectomy is easier to perform, allows quicker mobilization of the wrist and leads to good functional outcomes.

Ultrasound-Guided Steroid Injection of the Pisotriquetral Joint: A Multidisciplinary Effort.

From the perspective of a multidisciplinary team, the authors describe the first reported use of ultrasound guidance for steroid injection into the pisotriquetral joint to relieve wrist pain of a person with spinal cord injury undergoing acute inpatient rehabilitation. Musculoskeletal ultrasound guidance was used to improve the accuracy of a corticosteroid injection of the pisotriquetral joint and the basal thumb in a 70-year-old man with paraplegia experiencing multifocal degenerative wrist pain. There was no bleeding or bruising after the injections, and the patient reported complete pain resolution 1 wk after the injections, which continued for over 1 yr. A multidisciplinary team was key in diagnosis, selection of treatment, and evaluation of treatment effect. Corticosteroid injection of the pisotriquetral joint under ultrasound guidance can be used as a treatment modality for managing wrist pain stemming from that joint. Further investigation and studies evaluating the use of ultrasound versus other imaging modalities for injection of the wrist are indicated.

Latent pisotriquetral arthrosis unmasked following carpal tunnel release.

The causes of persistent wrist pain following carpal tunnel release include scar tenderness and pillar pain. The goal of this study was to evaluate latent pisotriquetral arthrosis as a source of ulnar-sided wrist pain following open carpal tunnel release. Seven hundred consecutive carpal tunnel releases were reviewed, looking for postoperative presentation of pisotriquetral arthrosis, as well as management and outcome. Fourteen patients with long-standing postoperative pain at the base of the hypothenar eminence had clinical and radiographic signs of pisotriquetral degenerative arthrosis, which conceivably had existed preoperatively and been unmasked thereafter. In 6 patients with persistent symptoms despite conservative measures, excision of pisiform was curative. Altered isometric stresses over the pisotriquetral articulation as a result of releasing the transverse ligament, which constitutes a major radial static stabilizer of this joint, seems to cause articular maltracking, and consequently aggravates a preexisting asymptomatic pisotriquetral arthrosis. Long-standing discomfort is characteristically associated with loss of grip strength and dexterity. Pisotriquetral dysfunction and arthrosis should always be considered in the differential diagnosis of persistent wrist pain following either open or endoscopic carpal tunnel release that does not respond to nonoperative measures. Clinical scrutiny, adequate clinical inspection, and radiographic evaluation readily establish the diagnosis. Conservative treatment includes immobilization, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and intra-articular injection of corticosteroids under fluoroscopic control. The corticosteroid injection combined with a local anesthetic also serves as a diagnostic test. Excision of the pisiform is indicated where conservative treatment has failed.

Mobilização do osso pisiforme no tratamento da neuropraxia do nervo ulnar no canal de Guyon: relato de caso / Pisiform bone mobilization for treating ulnar nerve neuropraxia at Guyon's canal: case report

As neuropraxias do nervo ulnar são lesões bastante freqüentes que provocam efeitos deletérios, como diminuição de força muscular e parestesias; geralmente ocorrem no nível do epicôndilo medial e do túnel ulnar (canal de Guyon). São escassos os relatos referentes a técnicas de terapia manual para compressões do nervo ulnar no canal de Guyon. Este trabalho relata o uso da técnica de mobilização do pisiforme na compressão do nervo ulnar no canal de Guyon de um homem que sofreu luxação do punho direito aos 8 anos e, aos 25, queixava-se de um deficit para adução do dedo mínimo, que atrapalhava a realização de algumas atividades de vida diária. O paciente foi submetido a uma única sessão de mobilização articular do pisiforme. Após a aplicação da técnica, o sinal positivo do teste foi eliminado, restabelecendo-se a função de adução do 5o dedo. Embora carecendo de maior fundamentação teórica, pode-se afirmar que a técnica usada, de mobilização articular do osso pisiforme, é eficaz para melhora do quadro de paresia por neuropraxia do nervo ulnar no canal de Guyon...

A common ulnar nerve neuropraxia is lesion that may result in muscle strength decrease and/or paresthesia; it usually takes place at medial epicondylelevel and the ulnar tunnel (Guyon’s canal). Studies on manual therapy techniques for ulnar nerve compression in Guyon’s canal are scarce. This paper reports the use of a technique of pisiform bone mobilization for relieving ulnar nerve compression in Guyon’s canal, in a man who had suffered a luxation of the right wrist at the age of 8 and, at 25, complained of adduction deficit of the fifth finger that interfered in his daily life activities. He was submitted to one session of pisiform mobilization; after the session, the positive test sign was eliminated, thus restoring the fifth finger function. Though lacking further grounding, it may be said that the technique used, of mobilizing the pisiform bone joint, is effective to restore normal function after ulnar nerve compression at the Guyon’s canal...

Compression of the ulnar nerve and spasm of the ulnar artery in Guyon's canal caused by a hypermobile pisiform bone.

We describe compression of the ulnar nerve at Guyon's canal caused by a hypermobile pisiform bone and associated with spasm of the ulnar artery. Treatment included excision of the pisiform bone, and repair of the flexor carpi ulnaris, hypothenar musculature, and periosteum. Postoperatively, the patient reported complete relief of symptoms, which had still been maintained at final follow-up one year later.

Pisotriquetral dysfunction following limited and total wrist arthrodesis.

PURPOSE: We report a series of pisotriquetral arthritis cases following wrist and intercarpal arthrodesis, offer an anatomic and biomechanical rationale, and introduce intraoperative considerations to avoid this potential complication. METHODS: Nine patients with pisotriquetral arthritis requiring pisiform excision following wrist and intercarpal arthrodesis were retrospectively evaluated at 2 institutions. Five paired cadaver wrists were tested for alterations in pressure and kinematics of the pisotriquetral joint following four-corner and total wrist fusions. RESULTS: Nine patients were successfully treated with pisiform excision for pisotriquetral arthritis following wrist and intercarpal fusions. Biomechanical cadaver testing demonstrated profound alterations in pisotriquetral kinematics and pressure changes in measured degrees of wrist position following wrist and intercarpal fusions. CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing four-corner and/or wrist arthrodesis should be assessed for pisotriquetral discomfort before surgery, including a physical examination and a 30 degrees supinated radiograph to look for degenerative changes. Attempts should be made intraoperatively to ensure that the proximal row is not fused in an extended position. After surgery, if discomfort develops and conservative treatment fails, then pisiform excision can successfully alleviate the pain.

Pisotriquetral arthrosis after triquetral malunion: a case report.

We report a patient with chronic ulnar palmar wrist pain caused by malunion after isolated fracture of the triquetrum. Intra-articular malunion of the triquetrum body resulted in posttraumatic pisotriquetral arthrosis. The diagnosis was made by magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, bone scintigraphy, and wrist arthroscopy 5 months after the injury. The patient's symptoms were relieved by excision of the pisiform.

Pisiform ligament complex syndrome and pisotriquetral arthrosis.

PLC syndrome is a spectrum that encompasses PLC instability and ends with PTA. Early recognition and treatment of PLC instability may disrupt its progression to PTA. The pisiform tracking test is a provocative maneuver that aids in diagnosing PLC syndrome. Pisiformectomy with preservation of the soft tissue confluence remains the treatment of choice for severe PLC syndrome that does not respond to nonoperative treatment.