The Outcomes of Radial Shortening Treatment in Kienbock's Disease in Shafa Hospital, Tehran, Iran, during the Years 2011 and 2016

Kienbock's disease is an enigmatic entity that causes wrist pain and disability in young adults. This study aimed to assess clinical and radiological outcomes radial shortening as its most common treatment.

In a retrospective research, the data of medical records of 100 patients with Kienbock's disease were studied. They included 66 men and 34 women with mean age of 28.9 ± 7.6 years, who treated using radial shortening surgery. The wrist indexes and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Score (Quick DASH) were calculated and analyzed.

60% of the patients were ulnar minus, 26% neutral, and 14% ulnar plus. Mean Quick DASH score was 11.34 ± 6.30 in patients in the Lichtman stages I and II, and 23.05 ± 10.40 in the Lichtman stage III. Delayed union after 5 months occurred in 3%, screw back out in 1%, and superficial infection in 1%. Mean duration of union was 16 weeks. Ulnar variance was the same amongst different Lichtman stages. At follow up, 29% had none, 39% mild, 23% moderate, 8% severe, and 1% extreme pain. Ulnar variance changed from -0.9 to +0.1. Bilateral involvement was noted in 4% and dominant arm involvement in 45%. In 26% of patients, radius was shortened less than 1 millimeter. No radiological progression or improvement occurred during follow up.

 After radial shortening surgery in Kienbock's disease, clinical improvement was commonly expected, even if the radius was not shortened to reach to neutral ulnar variance. This improvement was more obvious in patients in in the Lichtman stages I and II.</div>