Background: The goal in the treatment of stages II and III Kienböck disease is to restore lunate vascularity and halt the progression of avascular necrosis.
Methods: We report the outcomes for patients with stages II and III Kienböck disease treated with fourth extensor compartment artery vascularized bone grafting and temporary radiocarpal spanning internal fixation. Nine patients with a mean age of 28.8 years were included. Mean clinical and radiographic follow-up were 4.9 and 1.9 years, respectively.
Results: Six patients had no change in Lichtman stage, 2 patients regressed 1 stage, and 1 patient progressed 1 stage. Mean postoperative quick disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand (QuickDASH) was 17.4. Mean postoperative visual analogue pain scale (VAS) was 1.8. Patients under age 25 trended toward improved clinical outcomes compared with patients over age 25. Two patients, aged 33 and 65, underwent proximal row carpectomy at a mean 30.5 months postoperatively.
Conclusions: In conclusion, the use of local vascularized bone graft with temporary internal radiocarpal spanning fixation provides a treatment option with outcomes comparable to existing literature with benefits inherent to internal immobilization.
Keywords: Kienbock; avascular necrosis; diagnosis; fracture/dislocation; lunate; radiocarpal spanning plate; vascularized bone graft; wrist.