[Alternative surgical method in malalignment of healed distal radius fracture: Kapandji-Sauvé procedure].

Malunion after distal radius fracture with subluxation of the distal radioulnar joint can considerably limit the function of the hand. If the malunion cannot be eliminated by the corrective osteotomy of the radius, care must be taken not to additionally impair the stability of the wrist joint and the carpus, in the event of any necessary salvage procedure. In the Kapandji-Sauvé procedure, an arthrodesis is carried out after repositioning of the distal radioulnar joint. By segment resection of the ulnar shaft, a new joint is made to permit forearm rotation. Between 1984 and 1995, a total of 96 patients were treated with this procedure in our hospital. It was possible to re-examine 87 of those patients after an average period of 4 1/2 (1 to 11) years. The average age of the patients was 59 (14 to 72) years. In 25 cases the results were very good and in 52 cases good. In nine cases the results were poor. In one case the result was unsatisfactory.