Conservative and surgical treatment of wrist osteoarthritis: a systematic review
- Journal
- Archives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery (Q1)
- Published
- 11 August 2026
- Study design
- Systematic review / meta-analysis of RCTs
- Evidence level
- Level 1, High (CEBM 1a)
- Authors
- Julie Boever, Frank Unglaub, Jan Wulf, Christian K Spies, Martin F Langer, Adrian Cavalcanti Kußmaul
- PMID
- 42578991
- DOI
- 10.1007/s00402-026-06423-z
Why clinicians should know about it
- Picked for Rheumatology (top studies of the week, 16 August 2026): PRC vs 4CF surgical outcomes for wrist osteoarthritis reviewed
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Wrist osteoarthritis leads to pain and functional impairment. Despite conservative treatment options, surgery remains a central therapeutic component. In Germany, the number of patients rose from over 472,000 cases in 2018 to more than 580,000 in 2024. This review examines the most common surgical treatment approaches, focusing on Proximal Row Carpectomy (PRC) and Four-Corner Fusion (4CF), discussing indications, contraindications and potential complications. METHODS: A systematic and narrative literature review was conducted on treatment options for wrist osteoarthritis. The systematic review focusing on PRC and 4CF followed PRISMA guidelines and included searches in PubMed, Cochrane and Embase. Included were RCTs, systematic reviews and meta-analyses from January 2010 to May 2025 that compared both procedures in terms of pain, range of motion, grip strength, function, complication rates and reoperation rates. RESULTS: Eight studies were included. Both procedures significantly reduced pain and improved function. PRC showed advantages in range of motion and lower complication rates, while 4CF was associated with higher grip strength. Partial arthrodesis (e.g., scaphotrapeziotrapezoid (STT) arthrodesis or radioscapholunate (RSL)) arthrodesis may be selectively used but are linked to higher nonunion rates. Total wrist arthrodesis or wrist arthroplasty may be considered in case of contraindications and individual situations. CONCLUSION: PRC and 4CF are established motion-preserving procedures for wrist osteoarthritis, providing reliable pain relief and functional improvement, with current evidence favoring PRC in terms of range of motion and complication profile. Given the absence of high-quality comparative trials, procedure selection should be individualized, balancing disease severity, carpal stability requirements, and patient-specific functional demands.
Abstract as published, via PubMed.
For healthcare professionals. The summary is generated by AI from the published abstract, and the evidence level is assigned automatically from the study design on the Oxford CEBM hierarchy. Neither is medical advice. Read the full paper before changing practice.