Patterns of osteoarthritis of the wrist: a single-centre observational cohort study.

Abstract

This study describes the patterns and prevalence of advanced osteoarthritis of the wrist. Bilateral wrist radiographs of 1327 patients over the age of 40 years were reviewed. Osteoarthritis was present in 228 (17%) patients (368 wrists). One wrist was affected in 88 (39%) patients and both wrists in 140 (61%). A total of 27 different patterns of wrist osteoarthritis were found. The most common pattern was isolated osteoarthritis of the scaphotrapeziotrapezoidal joint (217 wrists, 59%), followed by isolated osteoarthritis of the radioscaphoid joint (45 wrists, 12%). In 251 (68%) wrists, advanced osteoarthritis was present only in the midcarpal joint, including the scaphotrapeziotrapezoidal joint. In 115 (31%) wrists, advanced arthritis was present in the radiocarpal joint or in both the mid- and radiocarpal joints. This suggests that advanced osteoarthritis of the midcarpal joint without radiocarpal involvement may be more common than previously thought.Level of evidence: IV.