Radial closing wedge osteotomy for Kienböck's disease

Twenty-six patients with Kienböck's disease who were treated with a radial closing wedge osteotomy and then followed for a total of 4 years and 5 months were studied. Their mean age at surgery was 31.7 years. Clinical results were excellent in 8, good in 11, fair in 6, and poor in 1 patient using the Nakamura scoring system. Nineteen (73%) patients had excellent or good results, and 25 (96%) were content with their results. Factors affecting the clinical results included the postoperative Ståhl index and the preoperative radiolunate angle. It was concluded that radial closing wedge osteotomy is an effective procedure for patients with Kienböck's disease but that a flexion deformity of the lunate limits clinical success.