The Sauvé–Kapandji (SK) procedure is indicated in distal radius nonunion or malunion and distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) instability.
It can also be used to treat the rheumatoid wrist with severe degenerative changes in the DRUJ. The main objective is to allow
a pain-free range of movement. We present a patient with rheumatoid arthritis and distal radius nonunion who, after three
operations, was treated with the SK procedure. The clinical and radiological results were excellent. A 53-year-old woman diagnosed
with rheumatoid arthritis fell on her forearm at home 2 years ago. Examination at an outpatient clinic revealed a distal radius
fracture classified as type V according to the Frykman classification. She had been operated three times with open reduction
internal fixation using a plate, screws, and bone allograft. She came to our institution with a distal radius nonunion, positive
post-traumatic ulnar variance, and ulnar nerve paresis. The range of movements was 20°–10° flexion-extension and 40°–30° pronation–supination,
and she needed daily fentanyl. We performed a modified SK procedure with an autologous iliac crest bone graft and ulnar bone
graft from the osteotomy area (cubitus proradius), bone morphogenetic protein, and a low profile distal radius plate. After
1 year of follow-up, the distal radius fracture has healed and the wrist is pain-free with a complete range of movement in
flexion-extension and pronation-supination. The main indication for the SK procedure is post-traumatic positive ulnar variance
and associated ulnocarpal impaction. The cubitus proradius bone graft transposition is an interesting technical note that
makes this case a challenge for skilled orthopedic hand surgeons.
Keywords Nonunion - Radius fracture - Sauvé–Kapandji