Power staple fixation in hand and wrist surgery: new applications of an old fixation device.

After laboratory testing power driven staples were used in metaphyseal type bone 39 times from December 1983 through April 1985 in 33 patients with hand or wrist problems. Applications included arthrodeses, nonunions, and osteotomy fixation. Diagnoses included rheumatoid and degenerative arthritis, scaphoid, and interphalangeal nonunions. There were no infections, and only one staple has broken. There has been little evidence of loosening or inflammation. Shattering of bone has not occurred; osteoporotic bone appears to be ideal tissue in which to use this fixation.