Epidemiological Profile and Surgical Outcomes in Patients with Spaghetti Wrist Injury: A Retrospective Study

Background: Spaghetti wrist is one of the most complex and disabling injuries of the upper extremity. Despite its surgical relevance, epidemiological and prognostic data remain limited.

Objective: To determine the epidemiological profile and prevalence of surgical reintervention in patients with spaghetti wrist injuries.

Methods: A retrospective, cross-sectional, and descriptive study was conducted at the “Dr. Victorio de la Fuente Narváez” Trauma Hospital, Mexico City. Medical records of patients with volar wrist injuries (zone V flexor) from January 2016 to December 2019 were reviewed. Continuous variables were expressed as mean ± standard deviation; categorical variables as frequencies and percentages. Significance was set at p ≤ 0.05.

Results: A total of 119 patients were included, 80.7% male (mean age 29.2 ± 12.4 years). Most injuries were accidental (77.3%), caused by glass (63%), and occurred at home (61.3%). The dominant side was affected in 88.2%. The reintervention rate was 7.6%. The most frequently injured structures were the flexor carpi ulnaris (59.7%), palmaris longus (59.7%), and ulnar artery (56.3%). No significant demographic or clinical differences were found between reoperated and non-reoperated patients.

Conclusion: Patients with spaghetti wrist injury treated at our institution shared similar demographic and clinical patterns to those reported internationally. Early surgical repair and adequate rehabilitation correlated with a low prevalence of reintervention.