Survival of unconstrained ceramic wrist joint implants

Introduction Survival of implants is an important indicator of improvement in the patient's quality of life. In foreign literature, the issue of implant survival finds special attention. The aim of the work was to evaluate the efficacy and survival of an unconstrained ceramic wrist joint endoprosthesis. Materials and methods We analysed 83 cases of total wrist arthroplasty with an unconstrained ceramic implant at long-term follow-up. At the Novosibirsk RSITO, total wrist arthroplasty was performed in 81 patients with severe changes in the wrist joint from 2011 to 2021. Two patients underwent arthroplasty on two joints. A retrospective uncontrolled cohort study was conducted which divided the hospitalized patients into three groups according to the etiological cause of the disease. Radiological methods were used to control the state of the implant (radiography in two projections and CT-scans of the wrist joint). For binary indicators, the number, rates and 95 % confidence interval of frequencies were calculated according to the Wilson formula in the groups. Comparison was carried out by Fisher's exact two-sided test. The p-error was corrected using the Benjamini – Hochberg method. Kaplan – Meier curves were constructed for survival analysis. The groups were compared using a generalized chi-square test. Results Each case of repeated surgical intervention was evaluated from the standpoint of selected groups. Depending on the time elapsed from surgery to revision, we calculated the time frame for overall and group survival of the components of the wrist joint endoprosthesis. The causes and scope of surgical revision are presented. Discussion There are no data on the survival of unconstrained ceramic wrist joint implants in the foreign literature. Graphic images according to a proposal for the division of the orthopaedic postoperative period are presented. Conclusions 1. Intermediate conclusions in regard to total arthroplasty with an unconstrained ceramic endoprosthesis of the wrist joint inspire optimism in obtaining a stable positive effect of motion range lost due to the degenerative process in the wrist joint. 2. An 11-year follow-up period demonstrates that the survival rate of an unconstrained ceramic wrist endoprosthesis is 88 %.