Preiser's disease: a case report

Preiser's disease, or avascular necrosis of the scaphoid, is an exceedingly rare although debilitating pathologic process. A case of progressive avascular necrosis of the carpal scaphoid is presented together with a review of the possible etiology of this rare syndrome. Histologic evaluations of resected specimens have demonstrated a localized sequestrum of necrotic bone, leading to the belief that disruption of blood supply is a major predisposing factor. The diagnosis of Preiser's disease or avascular necrosis of the carpal scaphoid should be exclusively reserved to those cases that demonstrate a progressive clinical and radiographic sequence of osteosclerosis and subsequent fragmentation of the scaphoid.