Purpose
The etiology of Kienböck disease remains unclear, although mechanical, vascular, and
metabolic risk factors have been suggested. We aimed to investigate the association
of the angle between the curvatures of the distal radius and the development of Kienböck
disease.
Methods
The lunate facet inclination (LFI), scaphoid facet inclination, and interfacet angle
(IFA) values were measured using posteroanterior plain radiographs of 82 patients
diagnosed with Kienböck disease. The results were compared with normative angular
reference values published based on an analysis of 400 wrists of Caucasian patients
aged between 20 and 45 years. The posteroanterior radiographs were divided into 3
categories: negative, neutral, and positive based on ulnar variance, and the relationship
between ulnar variance and facet angles was evaluated.
Results
The IFA value was significantly higher than the normative angular reference value
in the patients with Kienböck disease. Conversely, the LFI values were significantly
lower in the Kienböck patient group. There were no statistically significant differences
in the IFA and LFI values among the ulnar variance groups.
Conclusions
Measuring IFA and LFI allows the evaluation of the bifacet curvature of the distal
radius articular surface in the coronal plane. Steep IFA and shallow LFI are associated
with Kienböck disease. Increased IFA may lead to abnormal load transmission to the
intermediate column, which might eventually lead to increased stress on the lunate.
Type of study/level of evidence
Prognostic IV.
Key words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: September 07, 2021
Accepted:
July 16,
2021
Received:
July 25,
2020
Footnotes
No benefits in any form have been received or will be received related directly or indirectly to the subject of this article.
Identification
Copyright
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