Long-term results of Kienböck's disease treated by triscaphe arthrodesis and excisional arthroplasty with a coiled palmaris longus tendon.

Fifteen patients with Kienböck's disease were treated with scaphotrapeziotrapezoidal arthrodesis and lunate excisional arthroplasty with a coiled palmaris longus tendon replacement. Patients were classified into five groups preoperatively according to Lichtman's classification: stage IIIA, 1 patient; stage IIIB, 11; and stage IV, 3. After an average follow-up period of 57 months, the clinical results were evaluated by the method described by Lichtman et al. Twelve patients were rated as satisfactory, and three patients were rated as unsatisfactory. Clinical results were good with regard to pain relief and grip strength, but poor with regard to range of motion of the wrist. Five patients revealed postoperative progression of osteoarthritic changes at the radioscaphoid joint, and this appeared to be a main factor influencing clinical results. Two of these five patients had subsequent wrist arthrodesis. We conclude that stage IIIB is a specific indication for scaphotrapeziotrapezoidal arthrodesis.