Volar Carpus Dislocation Following Proximal Row Carpectomy for Scapholunate Advanced Collapse: A Rare Complication

Abstract

Scapholunate advanced collapse (SLAC) is a frequently encountered cause of wrist arthritis. For stage 2 disease, proximal row carpectomy (PRC) is an accepted treatment for which the literature has documented satisfactory outcomes and generally low complication rates. However, we report a case of SLAC wrist treated with PRC complicated by postoperative volar dislocation of carpus, to our knowledge a complication not yet reported in the literature. The patient developed atraumatic volar carpus dislocation after a routine PRC. This was treated with subsequent return to the operating room with closed reduction and percutaneous pinning of the wrist. Adequate reduction of the carpal dislocation was achieved and maintained after removal of pins. This case shows that closed reduction and percutaneous pinning is a valid option in this rare complication.

Keywords

• Carpectomy
• Complication
• PRC
• Scapholunate
• SLAC