RESUMO
Background Amandys is a pyrocarbon interposition implant used as a therapeutic alternative to total wrist fusion (TWF) or total wrist arthroplasty (TWA) in painful and disabling extensive destruction of the wrist. Objective To review mid-term outcomes in a continuous prospective series of patients who underwent wrist arthroplasty Amandys with a minimum follow-up of 5 years. Methods Clinical evaluation included a satisfaction survey, pain, two functional scores, the short version of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (QuickDASH) and the Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE), active wrist mobility, and grip strength compared with the contralateral side. Radiological evaluation was used to detect implant subsidence, carpal migration, bone lysis, or implant malposition. All per- and postoperative complications were collected. Results Fifty-nine patients (63 procedures) were evaluated with a mean follow-up of 7 years; 57% of the patients were males, and the mean age was 58 years. Among the patients, 90% were satisfied or very satisfied. Pain was significantly improved, with a gain of 4/10 ( p < 0.001). Functional outcomes also improved between the second and fifth year of follow-up. Active mobility was preserved and grip strength was significantly improved by 7 kg ( p < 0.001). No implant subsidence or carpal migration was observed. Ten patients (11.9%) underwent revision surgery for conflict (1%), rotation (6%), or implant dislocation (5%). All complications and revisions occurred early with no new events after 1 year of follow-up. Discussion Mid-term clinical and radiological outcomes were stable with improvement of functional scores. The survival rate was comparable to that reported for TWF with conserved mobility. We report fewer complications compared with those reported for TWA or TWF. Early instability of the implant was the main etiology of the revisions. Repositioning of the implant was successful. No conversion to TWA or TWF was necessary. Conclusions Mid-term outcomes of the Amandys implants were encouraging. Patients conserved good wrist motion with improved strength and functional scores. The implant was well tolerated. Functional outcomes continue to improve with the follow-up. The survival rate remains stable after 2 years. The level of evidence of this study is IV (therapeutic case series).
RESUMO
Treatment of failures after prior wrist surgeries with major articular destruction is challenging. In most cases, total wrist fusion is the only possible salvage procedure. We propose a new interposition arthroplasty with a pyrocarbon implant called Amandys. A total of 16 patients, 14 men and 2 women, with a mean age of 56 years were operated on for a failure of wrist surgery performed previously, with an average time lapse of 12 years. The prior surgeries were partial wrist arthrodesis in seven cases, silicone implant interpositions in five cases, advanced Kienböck disease (Lichtman IV) treatment in two cases, proximal row carpectomy in one case, and an isolated scaphoidectomy in one case. A prospective study with clinical and radiological evaluation was performed with a mean follow-up of 24 months (6 to 41 months). Pain and function showed significant improvement. The mean pain score decreased from 7 of 10 to 4 of 10, postoperatively. The mean grip strength was 19 kg (53% of the contralateral side), and the mean range of motion in flexion extension was 68 degrees. Mean strength and range of motion did not change significantly with the operation. The mean QuickDASH (Disability Arm Shoulder and Hand) score decreased from 59 of 100 to 39 of 100. The mean Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation decreased from 57 of 100 to 33. Two patients (12.5%) required revision for implant repositioning. No dislocation or subsidence of the implant was noted. Pyrocarbon interposition arthroplasty is a new option for treatment of advanced wrist destruction. Preliminary short-term results suggest that it may be a reliable alternative to total wrist fusion. The level of evidence of this study is IV (therapeutic case series).