[Therapy of capitate bone necrosis by partial alloplastic replacement]

To the author's knowledge, the use of a Silastic spacer for treating necrosis of the capitate bone has been described before. The method described in this paper is seen as a proven means of treatment, superior to intercarpal arthrodesis and tendon implantation, not to speak of conservative treatment. Moreover, it satisfies the general requirement for alloplastic replacement where this is still possible as a "last resort". The operation itself is simple, and the duration of treatment much shorter than by any other method.