[Lunatomalacia therapy. II. Operative treatment (author's transl)]

This report concerns the post-operative examination of 26 patients operated for 27 lunate bone necrosis. The following treatments were given: conservative (7), alloplastic (6), partial or total wrist arthrodesis (6), interposition tendon graft (5) and denervation of the wrist (1). The longest period of observation, an average of 13 4/12 years (maximum 21 years) was with the methods which have been grouped together under the heading conservative, after A. Beck (2), Konjetzny (2), Schneider (2), and Matti (1), the shortest period with the alloplastics and interposition tendon graft. Strict criteria were applied and the conservative method was judged "good" in only 2 cases whereas the interposition tendon graft, despite several disturbances in the carpal structure, produced 3 good subjective results. The metal endoprosthesis, which cannot be sutured, is not to be employed again because of the possibility of complications. A report on the results of arthrodesis of the wrist has already been published (Reichelt, 1973, 1975).