Limited intercarpal fusion as a salvage procedure for advanced Kienbock disease

Background

With progressive lunate collapse, salvage procedures in advanced Kienbock disease attempt to provide pain relief and maintain motion. Scaphocapitate arthrodesis may provide a durable option with comparable outcomes to proximal row carpectomy in the well-selected patient.

Methods

We performed a retrospective chart review of all consecutive patients with Lichtman stage IIIA or IIIB Kienbock’s disease who underwent either scaphocapitate or scaphotrapeziotrapezoid-capitate arthrodesis from January 2004 to December 2013.

Results

Twelve patients were included with a mean age of 41.6 years. Ten patients underwent scaphocapitate arthrodesis, while two patients underwent scaphotrapezio-trapezoid-capitate arthrodesis with an average clinical follow-up of 13.1 months. All patients achieved fusion. The average postoperative flexion-extension arc was 53° (range 20–110°). The average ulnar deviation was 9° (range 5–15°), and the average radial deviation was 13° (range 5–25°). Postoperative pain scores were significantly improved, having changed from an average of 6.6 preoperatively to 2.8 on a 10-point scale (W = 18, P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Despite a mean flexion-extension arc that is reduced from that of a normal individual, the postoperative range of motion following a midcarpal arthrodesis was not significantly different than that reported in a recent systematic review of proximal row carpectomy (73.5° compared with 53°, respectively) (P = 0.05). Additionally, given the significant postoperative reduction in associated pain symptoms at the time of follow-up, scaphocapitate arthrodesis should be considered as a treatment option for wrist salvage in the patient with advanced Kienbock’s disease.     

Evaluation of the efficacy of wrist arthroscopic surgery for aseptic necrosis of lunate bone

ObjectiveTo explore the use of wrist arthroscopy for treatment of aseptic necrosis of lunate bone and its curative effect.MethodsFrom March 2012 to January 2016, 12 patients with aseptic necrosis of lunate bone underwent necrotic lunate bone extirpation assisted by wrist arthroscopy, and the scaphocapitate joint treated with fusion‐stabilization were selected. Among these patients, 10 patients were male and two patients were female. The age of these patients ranged from 25 to 42 years old, with an average age of 32 years old. These lesions were located in the right hand in eight patients, and in the left hand in four patients. Lichtman stage: stage IIIA in two patients, and stage IIIB in 10 patients. All patients were diagnosed by anterior lateral radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). From the second day after the surgery, patients underwent active motion for the metacarpophalangeal joint and interphalangeal joints. When the X‐ray film indicated that the fracture had healed, patients began to resume their daily activities and work. After surgery, the plain films of all planes, including the axial plane of the scaphoid, were taken every month, until fracture healing. All patients were followed up for a mean duration of 8 months, and the Mayo wrist score was used to assess the range of motion of the wrist joint and grip force during the follow‐ups for objective function evaluation.ResultsFracture healing was obtained in all patients within 9–12 weeks after the operation, and average healing time was 10 weeks. The duration of follow‐up ranged between 6–14 months, and the mean duration was 8 months. According to the modified Mayo wrist score, the objective function of the wrist joint was evaluated as follows: flexion and extension range of the wrist joint was 40°–110°, with an average of 105°, which was 80% of that of the unaffected side. Radioulnar deviation was 45°‐80°, with an average of 55°, which was 82% of that of the unaffected side. Grip force was 25–48 kg, with an average of 40 kg, which was 84% of that of the unaffected side. The modified Mayo wrist score was good in eight patients, acceptable in three patients, and poor in one patient.ConclusionsWrist arthroscopy is an effective and feasible tool for the treatment of aseptic necrosis of the lunate bone, and the right kind of surgical procedure should be selected for different stages of the disease, and wrist arthroscopy is applied timely, in order to achieve the desired therapeutic effect.