Incidentally diagnosed Kienböck's disease.

The results of examinations of 14 patients with incidentally diagnosed Kienböck's disease were reviewed. These patients had not been examined previously, clinically or radiographically, and had not received any treatment for their condition. For 12 of these patients, Kienböck's disease was diagnosed incidentally on radiographic examinations obtained for other reasons, including carpal tunnel syndrome in four patients, Colles' fracture in three patients, pseudogout attack in the wrist in two patients, infection of the hand in one patient, osteoarthritis of the carpometacarpal joint of the thumb in one patient, and osteoarthritis of the metacarpophalangeal joint in one patient. The remaining two patients were diagnosed incidentally with Kienböck's disease based on radiographs obtained from a medical examination. Although radiographic findings revealed an advanced Kienböck's disease, current symptoms were mild in all patients, no problems with wrist pain were observed in activities of daily living or at work, and no treatment for Kienböck's disease was required. Appropriate treatment for Kienböck's disease should be considered carefully because some patients have no problems with activities of daily living or work for many years.