Biomechanical Comparison of Two Surgical Methods in Treating Stage IIIb Lunate Necrosis

Managing Kienbock Disease's Surgical Treatment and Outcome Analysis: A Case Report and Review of Literature

A 38-year-old man without a severe traumatic history reported to the outpatient department (OPD) with wrist pain at the dorsal aspect, mild swelling, stiffness, and restricted mobility at the left wrist joint. The patient had been experiencing these symptoms for a year. There was sharp tenderness, graded as 4 above the lunate bone, on examination of the left wrist joint. Advanced imaging, which is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and radiographs suggested that the patient had Kienbock's illness. Typically, the surgical approach for Kienbock's used is wrist fusion or proximal row carpectomy. However, in this case, a novel strategy of bone grafting, scaphoid-capitate fusion, and lunate excision was adopted. This case report explains the outcome of our scaphoid-capitate arthrodesis, which was done to maintain functional mobility and relieve discomfort by halting the progression of carpal collapse and carpal-ulnar translation.

Scapho-luno-capitate fusion with proximal lunate articular surface preservation for management of grade IIIA Kienböck's disease: a prospective case series

BACKGROUND

Kienböck's disease is idiopathic lunate avascular necrosis, which may lead to lunate collapse, abnormal carpal motion and wrist arthritis. The current study aimed to assess the outcomes of treating stage IIIA Kienböck's disease by a novel technique of limited carpal fusion via partial lunate excision with preservation of the proximal lunate surface and scapho-luno-capitate (SLC) fusion.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a prospective study of patients with grade IIIA Kienböck's disease managed with a novel technique of limited carpal fusion comprising SLC fusion with preservation of the proximal lunate articular cartilage. Autologous iliac crest bone grafting and K-wires fixation were used to enhance the osteosynthesis of the SLC fusion. The minimum follow-up period was 1 year. A visual analog scale (VAS) and the Mayo Wrist Score were utilized for the evaluation of patient residual pain and functional assessment, respectively. A digital Smedley dynamometer was used to measure the grip strength. The modified carpal height ratio (MCHR) was used for monitoring carpal collapse. The radioscaphoid angle, scapholunate angle, and the modified carpal-ulnar distance ratio were used for the assessment of carpal bones alignment and ulnar translocation of carpal bones.

RESULTS

This study included 20 patients with a mean age of 27.9 ± 5.5 years. At the last follow-up, the mean range of flexion/extension range of motion (% of normal side) improved from 52.8 ± 5.4% to 65.7 ± 11.1%, P = 0.002, the mean grip strength (% of normal side) improved from 54.6 ± 11.8% to 88.3 ± 12.4%, P = 0.001, the mean Mayo Wrist Score improved from 41.5 ± 8.2 to 81 ± 9.2, P = 0.002, and the mean VAS score reduced from 6.1 ± 1.6 to 0.6 ± 0.4, P = 0.004. The mean follow-up MCHR improved from 1.46 ± 0.11 to 1.59 ± 0.34, P = 0.112. The mean radioscaphoid angle improved from 63 ± 10º to 49 ± 6º, P = 0.011. The mean scapholunate angle increased from 32 ± 6º to 47 ± 8º, P = 0.004. The mean modified carpal-ulnar distance ratio was preserved and none of the patients developed ulnar translocation of the carpal bones. Radiological union was achieved in all patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Scapho-luno-capitate fusion with partial lunate excision and preservation of the proximal lunate surface is a valuable option for treating stage IIIA Kienböck's disease, with satisfactory outcomes. Level of evidence Level IV. Trial registration Not applicable.

Management of type 3 Kienbock's disease in manual workers by scaphocapitate fusion with minimum 7-year follow-up

BACKGROUND

Kienbock's disease results in altered wrist biomechanics producing debilitating pain at the wrist. The disease is staged according to radiological and clinical findings and the stage guides the treatment. Various treatment options have been described for stage 3, however, there is a lack of consensus over these treatment methods. Scaphocapitate fusion is the preferred surgical option for advanced Kienbock's disease. Previous studies had heterogeneous cohorts with a short duration of follow-up and a lack of uniform surgical technique. The purpose of the study was to show the long-term functional and radiological outcome of scaphocapitate arthrodesis (SCA) by using Herbert screw for the treatment of Kienbock's disease in manual workers.

METHODS

For this single-centre, retrospective study, all consecutive patients who were manual workers and managed by SCA between January 2010 and Jan 2014 for Lichtman stage IIIA and IIIB with at least 7 years of follow-up were included. Patients were assessed using clinical and radiological parameters preoperatively and in the follow-up period. Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH), Patient-Related Wrist Evaluation (PRWE), and VAS for pain were assessed.

RESULTS

Out of 27 patients, 4 lost to follow-up, therefore, 23 patients (14 women and 9 men) with 30 years of median age at the time of the surgery were included. DASH scores, PRWE scores, and VAS for pain significantly improved (p < 0.5) after surgery. Wrist range of motion and grip strength also improved significantly (p < 0.5). Postoperative radiological parameters were found to be within a normal range.

CONCLUSION

Scaphocapitate fusion by Herbert screws gives good functional, clinical, and radiological outcomes, in stage 3 of Kienbock's disease with excellent rates of fusion with low complications. Even, in manual workers, scaphocapitate fusion can reliably provide good outcomes and this is maintained in the mid to long-term follow-up. Therefore, it should be considered as one of the procedures of choice.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Retrospective, Level 4.

Limited Carpal Fusion in Kienböck's Disease: Early Results following Scaphocapitate Arthrodesis

Background  Kienböck's disease leading to progressive carpal collapse alters the wrist biomechanics leading to early arthritis and degenerative changes. Out of multiple surgical procedures present, no gold standard has been described. Scaphocapitate arthrodesis (SCA) is limited carpal fusion which shifts the loading axis toward radioscaphoid joint. This study presents the midterm clinical and radiological results of SCA in Kienböck's disease. Materials and Methods  The data were reviewed from January 2016 to December 2017. Lichtman's classification used to stage the disease. Clinical variables were noted for wrist range of motion, grip strength, visual analog scale (VAS) score, quick disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand (quickDASH), and patient-rated wrist evaluation (PRWE) scores. Radiographs were evaluated for union, ulnar variance, carpal height ratio, radioscaphoid angle, and scapholunate angle. Results  A total of 11 patients of Stage IIIA and IIIB Kienböck's disease with mean age of 24 years were included in the study with a minimum of 18 months of clinical follow-up. The procedure resulted in decreased ranges of motion but improved grip strength (26.09 ± 4.76 from 19.54 ± 4.63 kgf) and reduced pain with VAS score decreased from 7.36 ± 0.8 to 2 ± 1. Radiographic analysis showed union in all patients, reduced carpal height with a corrected radioscaphoid angle (from 62.12 to 48.3 degrees), and scapholunate angle (from 34 to 26.27 degrees). Discussion  SCA has advantage of technical ease of orientation of the scaphoid and osteosynthesis of only one intercarpal joint with a large contact surface. Coupling the distal and proximal carpal rows results in significant loss of mean wrist range of motion but with improved grip strength, shifting the load away from the radiolunate joint. However, long-term studies are needed for clinical benefits and radiographic signs of radioscaphoid arthritis for the treatment of advanced-stage Kienböck's disease. Level of Evidence  This is a Level IV, retrospective observational study.

Lunatum excision and scaphocapitate arthrodesis in Kienböck's disease

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to compare functional results before and after lunatum excision and scaphocapitate arthrodesis (SCA) using an angular stable circular plate in patients with Lichtman's stage IIIB Kienböck's disease.

METHODS

The study included nine patients (six females and three males) with a mean age of 33.2 ± 11 years (range: 18-54 years). Clinical and radiological assessment before and after surgery included wrist extension and flexion, range of motion and grip strength, visual analogue scale (VAS) score to assess pain, modified Mayo wrist scores, and measurements of the scapholunate (SL) angle and modified carpal height ratio.

RESULTS

The mean follow-up period was 17.33 ± 4.69 months (range: 12-24 months), mean operation time was 56.67 ± 12.5 min (range: 45-75 min) and mean hospitalization time was 3.44 ± 1.13 days (range: 2-6 days). Preoperative mean wrist extension was 23.89° ± 4.17°, mean wrist flexion was 32.22° ± 5.07°, mean grip strength compared to the healthy side was 34% (range: 28-37%) and mean VAS score was 7.6 (range: 7-8). Modified Mayo wrist scores were poor in all of the nine patients. Post-operative mean wrist extension was 27.78° ± 4.41°, mean wrist flexion was 40.56° ± 4.64°, mean grip strength compared to the healthy side was 71% (range: 63-81%) and mean VAS score was recorded as 1.4 (range: 1-2). Modified Mayo wrist scores were good in five and moderate in four patients. No patients had non-union or additional surgery.

CONCLUSION

Lunatum excision and SCA using angular stable circular plate fixation provide pain relief with acceptable preservation of the range of motion.