Long-term Outcomes for Late-Phase Kienböck’s Tenoarthroplasty

Abstract

Background: In late Kienbӧck’s, the lunate is fully fragmented and nonreconstructible. Replacing the lunate with a pyrocarbon prosthesis preserves load distribution and avoids carpectomy or fusion, but leaves the wrist intrinsically unstable, requiring additional soft-tissue stabilization techniques. Methods: Five men and 7 women with a mean age of 43 (±15) years underwent prosthetic replacement of the lunate with dual bundle scaphoid-triquetrum tenodesis for carpal stabilization. The mean follow-up interval from initial surgery was 9.1 (±1.7) years. Outcomes were Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score, revision or conversion surgery, and wrist range of motion. Results: The mean DASH score was 8.9 (±7.1). No patients reported any additional revision or conversion surgery. The mean wrist flexion was 60° (±14°); wrist extension was 45° (±21°). Conclusions: Clinical outcomes proved more favorable than anticipated, particularly the self-rated outcomes scores and the absence of any revision or conversion surgery.