Assessment of upper limb kinematics during functional tasks in patients with full wrist fusions

Study Description

Rheumatoid arthritis is a common autoimmune condition. The disease involves chronic inflammation of joints that leads to eventual degradation and loss of joint function. A commonly used treatment option for late-stage rheumatoid arthritis of the wrist is total wrist fusion, a procedure that involves surgically attaching the carpal bones of the wrist together. This procedure results in generally good outcomes, with patients describing decreased pain and increased grip strength as a result of the surgery. However, wrist fusions leave the patient with little to no wrist mobility. Total wrist fusion patients report having difficulties with several tasks of daily living, including lifting saucepans, reaching high shelves, and perineal care. They also report performing these tasks in a modified fashion compared to how they did before the surgery.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the differences in upper limb kinematics during functional tasks for patients who have received wrist fusion surgery.

How to Get Involved

We are working with Dr. Laura Sims and Dr. David Sauder, orthopedic surgeons in the Saskatchewan Health Authority, to recruit people who have had total wrist fusions.