KEINBOCK’S DISEASE

Objectives: To evaluate the functional and radiological outcome of metaphysealcore decompression of distal radius for treating Keinbock’s disease. Study Design: Descriptivecase series. Place and Duration: Orthopaedic A Unit Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar andGhurki Trust Teaching Hospital, Lahore and District Headquater Hospital Temargarah LowerDir from January 2014 to June 2016. Material and Methods: Patients of all ages and bothgender with pain and restricted wrist motion and radiologically diagnosed Lichtman’s stageI, II and III (A) were included in the study. Metaphyseal core decompression of distal radiuswas performed in the included subjects and patients were followed fortnightly for two monthsand then monthly for at least one year. At each visit pain was assessed with Visual AnalogueScale (VAS), wrist flexion and extension measured with goniometer and Stahl index with x raywrist. Results: A total of eleven patients including 9(81.8%) males and 2(18.1%) females with\mean age 31.2 years (range 24 to 42 years) were included in the study. Lichtman’s stage Ipatients were 2(18.1%), stage II were 6(54.5%) while stage III (A) patients were 3(27.2%).Postoperatively complete pain relief was achieved (VAS 0) for all stage I and II and most stage III (A)patients (90.9%, n=10) while mild pain (VAS 1) was reported in one (9%) patient of stage III (A)disease at final visit. Normal wrist flexion and extension was achieved in all stage I and II andmost of stage III (A) patients (90.9%). Only one (9 %) patient of stage III (A) could not achieveadequate wrist mobility at last follow up. Pre and post op Stahl index remained the same for allstages. No complication was reported. Conclusion: Metaphyseal core decompression of distalradius results in excellent functional outcome in majority patients and should be the treatmentof choice for early Keinbock’s disease (stage I’II and III (A).