four-corner fusion of the wrist (avascular necrosis of the scaphoid)

[lerrymoe]

Hello, I have developed somehow an avascular necrosis of the scaphoid. The condition happens when the the scaphoid is broken and one of the parts is not supplied with blood and dies. The only good news is that it was not on my right hand, since I'm right handed. The doc wants now to do a partial fusion of the wrist, with excision of the scaphoid and fusing the other 4 bones on the top of the wrist to provide stability. The excision of the scaphoid is said to be the only solution with partial fution of the wrist since I have alredy developed arthritis on the concerned wrist.  

My current situation is the following: almost no extention or flexion on the wrist; all other movements intact. If I keep the hand continuously in a splint i'll have no pain, but if i take it out i'll have pain in a very short time, doing even minor tasks.

Since I am quite young (29yrs) I am wondering what should I do. I dont want to live in pain, but I also know that this surgery will probably not be the end of this story. I know about this since the beginning of the year, and since then I've also done almost no sports. Before that I did sports almost every day.

My question is: has anyone here experience with partial fusion of the wrist? (four-corner fusion). Would you recommend it? What was the outcome?

Thanks a lot in advance,

Lerry  

[mike215000]

I am exactly one year from having my schapoid excised and a four corner wrist fusion.  Has anyone experienced severe hand pain around the metacarpals post surgery. I have bad pain in my hand all the time, especially when I use it or try to grip hard or push of the ground, things like that.  Also my motor function is not all back.  Maybe 50 percent.  I am a 32 year old athlete.  Has anyone experienced similiar problems so far after surgery, it seems like to me?

[cw1710]

Interesting reading here.  I am approximately 8 months out from my wreck and have a scaphoid nonunion after a bone graft was done.  I am now looking at having a scaphoid excision with a four corner fusion.  My motion is so little now that the doc says I may actually regain some motion after the surgery.  I'm just ready for all of this to be over as this will be my fifth surgery since the wreck.  

[firstgirl]

My daughter is 18 and had the four corner fusion last week. She is a lot of pain right now but I will let you know how it goes. She is in college so this first week with pain and school have been tough. She developed Avascular Necrosis from steroids and chemo treatment for leukemia at the age of 15.

[knitbone]

50 yrs young!!! I had partial wrist fusion Dec 2010. Next week Jan 2012 the plate and 8 screws to come out. Looking forward to that as its done the job. I have relatively thin wrists. Pain was considerate post op though I would go through it 10 times for the result I have. Active now as I was 15 yr ago. Yee hah. I work with my hands and find that having a stiff wrist hinders my ability very very little.  I certainly recommend the procedure when performed by a reputable competant surgeon.  I also recommend the external use of Comfrey (knitbone) ointment and the oral dose of symphytom (homeopathy) for the bones and Hypericum and calendula in sorbeline base for scar healing.

[robinhoodlane]

i had surgery #4 yesterday to debride the tfc in my left wrist. I'm 11 months post op from a partial fusion (plate & 8 screws) and my doc found the fusion was stable enough to remove the plate too. I work at a golf course during the summer and wasn't able to play until July when my doc shot the tfc with cortisone. After that, I was able to play 9 holes with minimal pain. I also bought a motocross brace from ****.com for about $25. Best $$$$ I ever spent. Good luck

[Puinsai5]

Howzit Blaine ,,after reading your post and an avid golfer too im in the same boat as you and going for full fusion next week. Im left handed but golf right handed and im getting the left wrist fused .I think im glad its the left getting fused  ,shouldnt hinder my swing as much ,what do you think ? how is your wrist doing now ?