Biomechanical comparison of methods used to treat Kienböck's disease.

The surgical approach to Kienböck's disease is largely dependent on the stage of the disease and the ulnar variance pattern. Many of the surgical treatments are designed to unload the lunate, halt disease progression, and allow for possible revascularization. This article reviews a collection of studies investigating the biomechanical effects of load-altering procedures. Knowledge of the biomechanical impact of the various operative interventions is clinically useful in creating a treatment algorithm.