ULNAR LENGTHENING AND RADIAL RECESSION PROCEDURES FOR KIENBOCKS-DISEASE - LONG-TERM CLINICAL AND RADIOGRAPHIC FOLLOW-UP

Twenty patients with Kienbock's disease who had undergone a joint leve lling procedure, were reviewed at a mean of 11 years following surgery . Clinical and radiological evaluation revealed good long-term results with all patients complaining of less pain than before surgery and wi th statistically significant increases in range of motion and grip str ength. Radiologically a significant number of patients were found stil l to have lunate fractures and fragmentation, In addition, 13 patients have developed new bone formation in the lunate fossa, and 12 show os teoarthritic changes, particularly at the radioscaphoid interface, Rad ial shortening was felt to be superior to ulnar lengthening in that th ere were fewer problems with bone union.