Outcomes of Patients Receiving Proximal Row Carpectomy and Meniscus Interposition Allografts for the Treatment of End-Stage Wrist Arthritis: A Comparative Study

Background: Proximal row carpectomy (PRC) is a mainstay of wrist arthritis treatment; however, it is traditionally contraindicated in patients with an affected capitate. The use of soft tissue interposition grafts to resurface the radiocapitate articulation has been previously described to allow for PRC in these patients. In the current study, we reviewed our outcomes using knee meniscus allograft interposition to resurface the radiocapitate articulation in patients who would have otherwise been contraindicated for PRC. Methods: A retrospective study of patients who underwent PRC with or without meniscus interposition arthroplasty was performed from 2011 to 2022. Patient demographics (age, sex, occupation, hand dominance, etc) were collected. Improvement in pain was the primary outcome. Wrist range of motion and reconstructive failure requiring fusion were the secondary outcomes. Results: We identified a total of 83 patients and 43 met the inclusion criteria. Fifteen patients (35%) underwent PRC with meniscus interposition arthroplasty, and 28 patients (65%) underwent PRC alone. Patients with and without meniscus interposition arthroplasty had documented improvement in pain postoperatively (93% vs 95%, P > .05) at a median follow-up time of 11 (range, 3-38 months) and 9 months (range, 3-64 months), respectively. Postoperative wrist range of motion (flexion: +9 vs -4, P > .05, extension: +12 vs -4, P = .10) trended toward increase in patients undergoing meniscus interposition arthroplasty compared with PRC alone. Conclusions: Our short- to mid-term outcomes in patients with end-stage wrist arthritis affecting the capitate who undergo PRC and meniscus interposition arthroplasty are comparable with those receiving PRC alone.