Beware! Pain in Your Wrist Might Be a Symptom of Rare Kienbock’s Disease

By Dr. Aditya Mani Gupta in Orthopaedics & Joint Replacement

May 13, 2020

Beware! Wrist Pain Could Be a Sign of Rare Kienbock’s Disease

Wrist pain is often linked to a fracture, sprain, or a recent injury. But if your wrist hurts without any trauma, it may be due to an underlying medical condition. Common causes include Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Arthritis, Repetitive Strain Injury, and Tendonitis.

However, there are also rare conditions that can lead to severe wrist pain. One such condition is Kienbock’s Disease — a disorder caused by reduced blood supply to the lunate bone, one of the eight small bones in your wrist. When the lunate loses its blood supply, the bone may get damaged, leading to pain, swelling, and sometimes difficulty moving the wrist.

What is Kienbock’s Disease?

Kienbock’s Disease (also called idiopathic avascular necrosis of the lunate) occurs when the blood flow to the lunate bone is restricted. Over time, this leads to bone death, degeneration, and progressive wrist dysfunction.

Causes of Kienbock’s Disease

Kienbock’s Disease can occur due to:

1. Wrist Injuries

• A major injury like a fall or accident
• Repetitive minor injuries over months or years

2. Poor Blood Circulation

Conditions that affect blood flow can contribute, such as:

• Lupus
• Sickle Cell Anemia
• Cerebral Palsy

Symptoms to Watch Out For

If you have persistent wrist pain, look for these signs:

• Severe wrist pain
• Muscle tenderness around the lunate bone
• Swelling or inflammation
• Reduced grip strength
• Difficulty moving the wrist
• Clicking or snapping sounds with movement

If these symptoms continue, consult a specialist at a trusted multispeciality hospital.

How is Kienbock’s Disease Diagnosed?

Because this is a rare condition, many patients ignore the initial signs. Persistent pain should never be overlooked.

Doctors may recommend:

• X-ray
• CT Scan
• MRI

Kienbock’s Disease is confirmed when imaging shows reduced blood supply or damage to the lunate bone.

Early diagnosis is crucial to prevent long-term damage.

Treatment Options for Kienbock’s Disease

Treatment depends on how advanced the disease is.

Early Stage Treatment

• Anti-inflammatory medications
• Wrist immobilization using splints or casts
• Reducing strain on the wrist

Advanced Stage Treatment (Surgical Options)

Orthopaedic surgeons may recommend one of the following:

• Revascularization:
  Bone and blood vessel grafting to restore blood flow.
• Capitate-Shortening Osteotomy:
  A portion of the wrist bone is removed and fused.
• Joint Leveling (Metaphyseal Core Decompression):
  Adjusting the length of forearm bones to reduce pressure.
• Proximal Row Carpectomy:
  Removing the damaged lunate bone (may limit wrist motion).
• Arthroplasty:
  Total wrist joint replacement with an artificial implant.

Because the disease is rare, it requires care from experienced surgeons with specialized training.

A Real Case Treated at Metro Hospitals

A 29-year-old woman came to Metro Hospitals with long-standing wrist pain and swelling. After clinical evaluation and imaging, she was diagnosed with advanced Kienbock’s Disease.

She was counselled about surgical options and physiotherapy. She underwent lunate excision and carpal arthrodesis. Post-surgery:

• Pain drastically reduced
• Wrist motion improved significantly
• Grip strength improved from 57.20% to 70.57%

Why Choose Metro Hospitals?

Metro Hospitals follows a patient-first approach, backed by advanced technology and highly skilled consultants. The hospital group was founded in 1997 by Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Dr. B.C. Roy Awardee Dr. Purshotam Lal to provide world-class healthcare at an affordable cost.

Today, Metro Hospitals is one of India’s leading healthcare groups with state-of-the-art infrastructure and specialists across 35+ medical and surgical departments, including:

• Cardiology
• Orthopaedics & Joint Replacement
• Neurology
• Oncology
• Gastroenterology
• Nephrology
• Rheumatology
• Pulmonology
• ENT
• Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
• Paediatrics & Neonatology
• And many more

About Dr. Purshotam Lal

Dr. Lal is an internationally acclaimed Interventional Cardiologist trained in the UK, Germany, and the USA. He is credited with pioneering several medical procedures in India and has performed some of the largest volumes of angioplasties and stenting procedures in the country.

His awards include:

• Padma Bhushan (2003)
• Padma Vibhushan (2009)
• Dr. B.C. Roy National Award
• Rajiv Gandhi Award
• Multiple Lifetime Achievement Awards

He has also authored several research papers and the book “Cause and Prevention of Heart Diseases”.

Metro Hospitals’ Commitment

Metro Group of Hospitals is committed to:

• Providing affordable healthcare
• Delivering best-in-class treatment
• Ensuring no patient is denied treatment due to financial constraints

The team continues to uphold the vision of compassionate, world-class medical care for all.

 FAQs

1. What is Kienbock’s Disease?

Kienbock’s Disease is a rare condition where blood flow to the lunate bone decreases, leading to bone damage and wrist pain.

2. What causes Kienbock’s Disease?

Common causes include previous wrist injuries, repeated microtraumas, and conditions affecting blood circulation such as lupus or sickle cell anemia.

3. What are the symptoms of Kienbock’s Disease?

Typical symptoms include wrist pain, swelling, reduced grip strength, stiffness, and a clicking sound while moving the wrist.

4. How is Kienbock’s Disease diagnosed?

Doctors use X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs to detect reduced blood flow to the lunate bone.

5. Is surgery necessary for Kienbock’s Disease?

Early stages may be treated with immobilization and medication. Advanced cases may require procedures like revascularization, osteotomy, or wrist replacement.

6. Which hospital is best for treating Kienbock’s Disease?

Metro Hospitals offers advanced diagnostic tools and experienced orthopedic surgeons skilled in treating Kienbock’s Disease.