Load transfer through the radiocarpal joint and the effects of partial wrist arthrodesis on carpal bone behaviour: a finite element study

A finite element model of the wrist was developed to simulate mechanical changes that occur after surgery of the wrist. After partial arthrodesis, the wrist will experience altered force transmission during loading. Three different types of partial arthrodesis were investigated — radiolunate, radioscaphoid, and radioscapholunate — and compared with the healthy untreated wrist. The results showed that the compressive forces on the radiocarpal joint decreased compared with the untreated wrist with both radiolunate and radioscaphoid fusions.