- In 1910, a Viennese radiologist, Dr. Robert Kienbock, first acknowledged the disease, also known as avascular necrosis of the lunate, or lunatomalacia.
- The cause of Kienbock's disease is unknown; however, any trauma to the wrist, such as a fall, can disturb the blood flow to the lunate.
- Symptoms include decreased grip strength in the hand, wrist stiffness, tenderness over the wrist bone and a painful and sometimes swollen wrist.
- Kienbock's disease develops in four stages. The beginning stage is easily confused as a sprained wrist. The lunate bone then begins to harden, causing continued pain, tenderness and swelling. The dead bone begins to collapse, breaking into small pieces, causing severe pain. Finally, The surfaces of the adjoining bones are affected, which may produce arthritis.
- The primary goal is to promote blood flow by relieving pressure on the lunate. Nonsurgical treatment involves splinting the wrist or putting it in a cast for two to three weeks. The available surgical procedures include revascularization (returning the blood supply to the bone), fusing bones together, excision of dead lunate, and joint-leveling procedures (shortening the longer bone or lengthening the shorter bone).
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