Conservative surgery in Kienbock's disease with perilunate arthrosis: articular resurfacing using resected carpal bones

Abstract

We present 2 cases of Kienböck's disease in which peri-lunate chondral lesions contra-indicated classical procedures such as proximal row carpectomy or 4 corner arthrodesis. A partial carpectomy provided us with an osteochondral graft, used to resurface the areas of chondral damage over the capitate or on the radius. The clinical and radiological result was stable at a follow-up of 3 and 6 years. In the first case, degenerative changes over the head of the capitate contra-indicated proximal row carpectomy. The lunate was removed and the proximal 2/3 of the scaphoid were shifted medially and fused in a "four-corner"-like arthrodesis. In the second case, the lunate fossa on the radius was damaged. The proximal row was excised and an osteochondral graft was harvested from the triquetrum. This was used to replace the lunate fossa on the radius. This new concept of a "carpal bank" has enabled us to extend the classical indications for proximal row carpectomy and four-corner arthrodesis. It makes it possible to withdraw the limits of conservative wrist surgery in Kienböck's disease and we believe this concept could also be extended to similar situations of localized chondral damage in small joints.