An Unusual Source of Wrist Pain

In brief After weight lifting, a 15-year-old boy pain in his right wrist, had tenderness over the dorsum of the lunate, and had limited wrist motion. Radiographs revealed avascular necrosis of the lunate, or Kienböck's disease, and negative ulnar variance. The patient was successfully treated with an ulnar lengthening procedure and immobilization. This patient's symptoms are typical of Kienböck's disease, which should be considered in the differential diagnosis of any active patient who has wrist pain and limited wrist motion. Treatment of this rare disorder can include immobilization for early-stage disease, or surgery, which is most likely to provide an optimal outcome.