Total wrist arthrodesis (TWA) produces a spectrum of outcomes. We investigated this by reviewing 77 consecutive TWA performed for inflammatory and post-traumatic arthropathies, wrist instability and as a salvage procedure.

All operations were performed by a single surgeon using a specifically designed pre-contoured dorsally applied non-locking wrist arthrodesis plate at a single centre.

Median post-operative Buck-Gramcko Lohman (BGL), Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand and Patient Rated Wrist Evaluation scores at six years (interquartile range (IQR) 3 to 11) were 9 (IQR = 6 to 10), 19 (IQR = 7 to 45) and 13 (IQR = 1 to 31) respectively. Polyarticular inflammatory arthritis and female gender were associated with poorer patient-reported outcomes, although the effect of gender was partly explained by higher rates of inflammatory disease among women. Return to work was negatively influenced by workers' compensation and non-inflammatory wrist pathology. There was no difference in complication rates for inflammatory and non-inflammatory indications.

Polyarticular inflammatory arthritis is a risk factor for adverse patient-reported outcomes in TWA. Furthermore, when compared with patients without inflammatory arthritis, dorsally applied pre-contoured plates can be used for wrist arthrodesis in patients with inflammatory arthritis without an increased risk of complications. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2016;98-B:647-53.