Abstract

The authors have used dorsal capsular reinforcement with a retinacular flap to treat 13 patients with chronic lunotriquetral instability. The patients, 8 female and 5 male with a mean age of 30 years, were reviewed by an independent observer after a mean follow-up of 3.2 years. Overall patient satisfaction was poor in five, moderate in five and excellent in three. Three patients underwent a secondary procedure: lunotriquetral arthrodesis in two and tenolysis of the extensors in one. Overall, the authors did not find a significantly better outcome compared to lunotriquetral arthodesis, but the complication rate and the rate of reoperations were lower.