Limited Wrist Fusion for Kienbock's Disease / 대한정형외과학회잡지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate clinical outcomes of triscaphe (STT), scapho-capitate (SC) and scapho-capito-hamato-triquetral (SCHT) fusion in advanced Kienbock's disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty patients with Lichtman stage III and IV disease were treated with limited wrist fusion. STT & SC fusion for stage IIIa and IIIb, and SCHT fusion for IIIb and IV were done according to preoperative radiologic and intraoperative articular surface findings. The mean follow-up period was 31.6 months (range 13-108) and the mean age at the time of their surgery was 44.7 years (range 22-71). There were 13 cases of STT fusion, 19 cases of SC fusion and 8 cases of SCHT fusion. For assessment of treatment results, wrist range of motion, grip strength, VAS (visual analog pain score) and any radiologic changes of the wrist were checked at last follow-up. RESULTS: VAS score was 4.7 for STT, 3.0 for SC, 4.5 for SCHT. Grip strength, compared with the contralateral side, was 72% for STT, 78% for SC, and 54% for SCHT. Pain was more improved for the SC fusion group than for the other two groups (p=0.007). Grip strength was decreased more in the SCHT fusion group than in the other two groups (p=0.009). There were no statistically significant differences in range of motion between any of the three groups. The bone achieved union in all cases except one SC fusion. CONCLUSION: Limited wrist fusion in advanced Kienbock's disease has been regarded as a valuable method. However, SC fusion has been thought of as a more favorable technique than STT fusion with respect to pain relief. SCHT fusion is thought to be a possible salvage procedure with a limited indication for Stage IV Kienbock's disease.