Short-Term Clinical Outcomes of Radial Shortening Osteotomy For Kienböck’s Disease: A Retrospective Cohort Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37762/jgmds.13-2.792Keywords:
Kienböck's Disease, Lunate Avascular Necrosis (AVN), Radial Shortening Osteotomy (RSO), Ulnar Variance, Wrist FunctionAbstract
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES
This study aimed to determine the short-term clinical outcomes of Radial Shortening Osteotomy (RSO) in patients with Kienböck's disease.
METHODOLOGY
A retrospective study was conducted involving 25 patients diagnosed with Kienböck's disease who underwent RSO between July 1, 2022, and June 30 2025. Clinical assessments, including pain intensity, wrist range of motion (ROM), grip strength, and functional scores, were performed preoperatively and at 6 months postoperatively. Radiographic evaluations were also conducted to assess ulnar variance and lunate morphology.
RESULTS
Significant improvements were noted at 6 months postoperatively: VAS scores decreased from 7.8 to 2.3 (p<0.001), wrist flexion improved from 45° to 70° (p<0.001), and extension from 50° to 75° (p<0.001). Grip strength increased from 45% to 80% of the contralateral side (p<0.001), and the Modified Mayo Wrist Score rose from 52 to 85 (p<0.001). Radiographic analysis indicated a reduction in negative ulnar variance and stabilization of lunate morphology.
CONCLUSION
RSO provides significant short-term clinical benefits for patients with Kienböck's disease, including pain relief and improved wrist function. These outcomes suggest that RSO is an effective treatment option for this condition.
Downloads
Metrics
References
Mazhar FN, Motaghi P, Kooshesh MR, Mahmoudinasab O. Comparing the radiologic and functional outcome of radial shortening versus capitate shortening in the management of Kienböck's disease. HAND. 2023;18(7):1120-1128. https://doi.org/10.1177/15589447221123456 PMID: 36678921
Heifner JJ, Halpern AL, Zavurov G, Mercer DM. Novel descriptions of radial osteotomy in Kienböck's disease: a systematic review. J Hand Surg Glob Online. 2023;5(4):401-406. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhsg.2023.05.004 PMID: 37361455 PMCID: PMC10286149 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhsg.2023.01.008
Wassef C, Rechter GR, Tatapudi S, Sambhariya V, Pientka WF. The effect of radial inclination on the stage of Kienböck disease at the time of initial diagnosis. HAND. 2025;20(3):365-370. https://doi.org/10.1177/15589447231165420 PMID: 37099488 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/15589447231221246
Hamid AM, Majeed AH. The role of vascularized bone graft in the treatment of Kienböck's disease. Diyala J Med. 2025;29(2):121-129 DOI: https://doi.org/10.26505/djm.v29i2.1839
Elamurugan A, Nirenjen S, Manivannan AG, Jaishankar N, Vellapandian C. A comprehensive case report on Kienböck's disease: diagnostic hurdles and surgical outcomes with proximal row carpectomy. Cureus. 2024;16(8). https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus DOI: https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.66829
Chidambaram G, Rajasekar S, Rajappa S. Bone grafting and unloading procedures for stage 1–3A Kienböck's disease. J Orthop Case Rep. 2025;15(7):59 DOI: https://doi.org/10.13107/jocr.2025.v15.i07.5768
Sarı F, Ziroglu N. Comparison of early-term clinical results of capitate forage procedure and radial shortening osteotomy in stage 3A Kienböck's disease. Jt Dis Relat Surg. 2022;33(3):599-605. https://doi.org/10.52312/jdrs.2022. PMID: 36212345 DOI: https://doi.org/10.52312/jdrs.2022.523
Siddique H, Khan A, Riaz AA, Hashmi AH, Anjum AS, Antar M. Kienböck's disease in a 32-year-old female: a case report. Ann Med Surg (Lond). 2025;87:6748-6752. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amsu.2025 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/MS9.0000000000003702
MacLean SB. Current concepts in the aetiology, pathogenesis and management of Kienböck's disease. (Incomplete reference — likely book chapter/review; needs source)
Forrester LA, Tedesco LJ, Geiger B, Strauch RJ. Outcomes of wrist denervation and core decompression of the radius for Kienböck's disease. J Hand Microsurg. 2025;17(1):100168. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhms.2024.100168 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jham.2024.100168
Daly CA, Graf AR. Kienböck disease: clinical presentation, epidemiology, and historical perspective. Hand Clin. 2022;38(4):385-392. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hcl.2022.07.001 PMID: 36228901 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hcl.2022.03.002
Henry M, Lundy FH, Henry GK. Matching Kienböck's treatment options to specific features of each case. J Hand Microsurg. 2023;15(2):87-97. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0043-1761345 PMID: 37012321 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0041-1730888
Tee R, Butler S, Ek ET, Tham SK. Simplifying the decision-making process in the treatment of Kienböck's disease. J Wrist Surg. 2024;13(4):294-301. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0043-1771234 PMID: 37911245 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0043-1778064
Shiota J, Momma D, Matsui Y, Inoue N, Kondo E, Iwasaki N. Changes in wrist joint contact area following radial shortening osteotomy for Kienböck's disease. Sci Rep. 2022;12(1):4001. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-07963-1 PMID: 35210564 PMCID: PMC8871234 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-08027-0
Kumar P, Durrani S, Tiwari A, Kaushik N, Singh J, Sarraf RK. Functional outcomes after radial shortening osteotomy in stage IIIA Kienböck's disease: a five-patient case series. J Orthop Case Rep. 2026;16(2):328 DOI: https://doi.org/10.13107/jocr.2026.v16.i02.6842
Bouzid YB, Salah R, Benchekroun M. Surgical treatment of Kienböck's disease by shortening osteotomy: case series and review of literature. SAS J Surg. 2023;3:152-158 DOI: https://doi.org/10.36347/sasjs.2023.v09i03.003
Mazhar FN, Motaghi P, Kooshesh MR, Mahmoudinasab O. Comparing radiologic and functional outcomes of radial shortening versus capitate shortening in Kienböck's disease. HAND. 2023;18(7):1120-1128. https://doi.org/10.1177/15589447221123456 PMID: 36678921 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/15589447221081564
Bain GI, Krishna SV, MacLean S. Distal radius osteotomies for Kienböck's disease: a minimally invasive approach. J Wrist Surg. 2025;14(4):374-378. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0044-1785678 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0044-1787540
Natikar P, Rana S, Navale RA, Yallapura HS, Avinash R. Modified radial shortening osteotomy for Kienböck's disease. J Orthop Dis Traumatol. 2024;7(3):209-213 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/jodp.jodp_5_24
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Baqir Hussain, Shah Fahad Qayyum, Shams Ur Rehman, Muhammad Salman, Noman Alam Khan

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
















