Vascularized Bone Grafts from the Lateral Femoral Condyle for the Treatment of Avascular Lunate Necrosis (Kienböck's).

BACKGROUND: Avascular necrosis of the lunate (Kienböck's disease) is rare and one of the main causes of progressive painful arthritis, requiring surgical intervention. Various approaches have shown benefits in treating Kienbock's disease but with limitations. The article aims to analyze the functional outcome using lateral femoral condyle free vascularized bone grafts (VBGs) as the first choice of treatment for Kienböck`s.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of 31 patients with Kienbock's who had microsurgical revascularization or reconstruction of the lunate between 2016 and 2021 using either corticocancellous or osteochondral VBGs from the lateral femoral condyle. The characteristics of lunate necrosis, choice of VBG and postoperative functional outcome were reviewed.

RESULTS: Corticocancellous VBGs were used in 20 patients (64.5%), while osteochondral VBGs in 11 patients (35.4%). The lunate was reconstructed in 11 patients, revascularized in 19 patients, and one patient received augmentation of a luno-capitate arthrodesis with a corticocancellous graft. We noted postoperative irritation of the median nerve ( n  = 3) and screw loosening requiring removal ( n  = 1) as minor complications. All patients had complete graft healing at eight-month follow-up and acceptable functional outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS: Free VBG from the lateral femoral condyle represent a reliable method of lunate revascularisation or reconstruction in advanced Kienböck's. Their main advantages are the constant vascular anatomy, straightforward graft harvesting technique and possibility to harvest several graft types according to the requirements at the donor site. Postoperatively, the patients become pain-free and have an acceptable functional outcome.