Radius shortening in malacia of the lunate.

Eight patients with malacia of the lunate treated by shortening of the radius have been reviewed after follow-up ranging from 2 to 7 years. The results were highly satisfactory and only one patient with fragmentation and collapse of the diseased bone did not obtain long-lasting pain relief. In all cases the progressive collapse of the lunate was arrested, an effect which is considered to be the result of reduced pressure on the lunate obtained by the radius shortening procedure.