Hand and wrist joint procedures in patients with scleroderma: a systematic review. (May 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Politikou, Olga; Giesen, Thomas; Reissner, Lisa; Calcagni, Maurizio
• Is Part Of: Journal of hand surgery. Volume 44:Number 4(2019)
• Page Start: 402
• Page End: 407
• Publication Date: 2019-05
• Subjects: Scleroderma -- systemic sclerosis -- hand arthroplasty -- wrist arthroplasty -- finger arthrodesis -- morbidity; 617.575059
• DOI: 10.1177/1753193418795632
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1753-1934

Abstract

We aimed to examine if joint procedures in hands and wrists of patients with scleroderma could be performed without major morbidity and conducted a systematic review of the literature to assess this hypothesis. Studies were identified in four different databases; soft tissue procedures in scleroderma patients were excluded, and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were followed. Seven studies out of an initial total of 203 articles were included. One-hundred and twelve scleroderma patients with a total of 402 joint procedures in the hand and wrist were identified. A low complication incidence, comparable with that of non-sclerodermic population, in terms of infection, wound healing problems, and nonunion was reported in all studies. The application of joint procedures in scleroderma hands and wrists seems to be associated with low morbidity.