Purpose: Kienböck disease is characterized by avascular necrosis of the lunate bone, which is usually progressive without treatment. This study examined lunate core decompression for its treatment potential.
Methods: We surgically treated 20 patients with stage 1 to 3b Kienböck disease with lunate core decompression. We evaluated pain, range of motion, functional disability, and radiographic indices in these patients at baseline and 5 years after surgery.
Results: The mean age of the patients was 29 years; 16 were men. Ten patients had Lichtman stage 1 disease, 6 had stage 2 disease, 3 had stage 3a, and 1 had stage 3b disease. Range of motion scores showed meaningful improvement. Two patients did not improve with this technique and were revised with radial shortening procedures.
Conclusions: Lunate core decompression is a simple surgical procedure that is effective in the treatment of Kienböck disease.
Type of study/level of evidence: Therapeutic IV.
Copyright © 2011 American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.