Capitate Shortening Osteotomy With Vascularized Bone Grafting for the Treatment of Kienböck's Disease in the Ulnar Positive Wrist

PurposeDecompression surgery combined with revascularization surgery may provide better results than either alone in the treatment of Kienböck's disease. This study describes our experience with capitate shortening combined with vascularized bone grafting for the treatment of Kienböck's disease in ulnar neutral and ulnar positive variant patients.MethodsBetween 1996 and 2004, patients diagnosed with Lichtman stage II or stage IIIA Kienböck's disease with ulnar neutral or ulnar positive wrists were enrolled in this prospective study and had capitate shortening osteotomy with concurrent vascularized bone grafting. Preoperative and postoperative clinical evaluation included wrist arc of motion, grip strength, and overall satisfaction score. Preoperative and postoperative wrist radiographs and preoperative magnetic resonance imaging were performed. Radiographic measurements of preoperative and postoperative ulnar variance and carpal height ratio were also evaluated. The average follow-up period was 41 months (range, 26–65 months).ResultsFourteen patients with an average age of 25 years (range, 16–39 years) were studied. The results show significant improvement in grip strength (58% to 78% of the normal side), satisfaction score, and satisfactory arc of motion. The average carpal height ratio was maintained. Average time to osteotomy healing was 48 days.ConclusionsCapitate shortening osteotomy combined with vascularized bone graft is effective in the treatment of ulnar-positive Kienböck's disease prior to the onset of radiocarpal arthrosis.Type of study/level of evidenceTherapeutic IV.