Minos Ε. Tyllianakis MD, PhD

A trauma injury or repetitive injuries in a joint may end in post-traumatic arthritis. This situation is characterized by constant pain and varying functional disability. Various conservative means are of minor help. Traditionally, surgical intervention in terms of arthroplasty (to replace the worn articular surfaces with artificial joints) or arthrodesis (to unite two adjacent bones in order to eliminate motion and consequently pain) may be quite helpful. However both surgical intervention have their drawbacks.

Wrist and ankle arthritis can be treated equally good with well designed osteotomies in adjacent bones that offer substantial subjective improvement and retardation of arthritis, although no change will be noted in radiological investigations.

Osteotomies do not require replacement of joints with arthroplasties nor do they abolish any movement of the affected joints. On the contrary the improve range of motion and yield superior functional outcomes.

Post-operatively a splint is applied for a couple of days.