Osteotomy of the radius without shortening for Kienböck disease: a 10-year follow-up.

PURPOSE

To determine the long-term effect of distal radius osteotomy without modifying the radial length or inclination for Kienböck disease.

METHODS

Over 9 years, 14 patients underwent osteotomy of the distal radius without altering radial length or inclination. A total of 11 of these patients were available for follow-up after 10 or more years. We assessed pain, range of wrist motion, and grip strength preoperatively and postoperatively in all cases, as well as preoperative and postoperative posteroanterior and lateral x-rays.

RESULTS

The osteotomy healed in all cases. All 11 patients had decreased pain and showed improvement in wrist motion and grip strength. Radiographically, there were no measurable changes in ulnar variance and there was minimal loss of carpal height. In some patients, the lunate showed increased sclerosis or fragmentation.

CONCLUSIONS

An osteotomy of the distal radius without altering radial length or inclination was effective in decreasing pain and improving grip strength and wrist motion regardless of ulnar variance.