Radial styloidectomy: A biomechanical study on stability of the wrist joint

The use of the Radial Styloid in the Extended Osteocutaneous Radial Forearm Free Flap

“…The current literature does not contain any case reports describing fractures following radial styloidectomy. A single in vitro study demonstrated that excess radial styloidectomy may affect wrist stability but that small resections, similar what is done in the extended OC-RFFF are safe (12).…”

“…The radial styloid consists of thick cortical bone, and is commonly removed to treat wrist arthritis and does not negatively impact wrist biomechanics when the volar radioscaphocapitate ligament is preserved (12). In our patients, it is the radial border to the tip of the styloid that is harvested and, therefore, less bone is resected than for a styloidectomy.…”

“…radiocarpal joint (12). The contour of the radial border of the styloid is used specifically to reconstruct the anterior mandible or maxilla, where its inherent shape can recreate the contour without the need for additional osteotomies.…”

Chronic Scapholunate Ligament Injuries

“…Care is taken to limit the resection size to 3 to 4 mm to maintain the origin of the radioscaphocapitate ligament and decrease the risk for radiocarpal instability that may result from over-resection. 11 In addition to SL diastasis, there is rotatory subluxation of the scaphoid and lunate. Reduction is achieved with the use of 1.4-mm (0.054-inch) K-wires as joysticks placed into the scaphoid and lunate.…”

Scapholunate advanced collapse (SLAC) and scaphoid nonunion advanced collapse (SNAC) wrist arthritis

“…Although all types of styloidectomy removed a certain degree of radiocarpal ligaments, the short oblique osteotomy preserved the most extrinsic ligamentous support to the wrist [19]. More recently, Nakamura et al recommended against removing more than 3-4 mm with the oblique osteotomy to avoid increased carpal instability [20]. There have been reports of arthroscopic radial styloidectomy; however, true comparison of outcomes between this technique and open technique are not available [21].…”