MEASUREMENT OF INTRAOSSEOUS PRESSURE IN K IENBOCKS-DISEASE - FIRST FINDINGS

Intraosseous pressure was measured under standardized and different fu nctional conditions in 11 necrotic lunates in different stages of the disease and in 11 viable lunates. Both the viable and the necrotic lun ates show a significant increase of the pressure, if the wrist is brou ght into dorsiflexion. Both groups do not differ significantly, but th e mean value of the necrotic group exceeds that of the viable group cl early. There might have some technical problems in measuring. Venous s tasis by tourniquet provoked increase of pressure, too. The increase o f pressure both in dorsiflexion and in venous stasis is evidence of ve nous drainage. Dorsiflexion impairs the venous drainage of the lunate, which promotes necrosis. The increase of intraosseous pressure in nec rotic lunates can be understood as a failure of the physiologic regula tion of the intraosseous pressure by moving the wrist and cause of nec rotic changes.