Learning More About Kienbock's Disease

When it comes to wrist pain Las Vegas, unless it immediately occurs after an acute injury, it can be tough to diagnose. One of the conditions that are not common, but definitely something to consider after the common hip pain Las Vegas causes are ruled out is referred to as Kienbock's disease. This is a rare condition that can cause wrist dysfunction and pain. It occurs when the lunate bone, one of the carpal tunnel bones, experiences damage as a result of an interrupted blood supply.

Causes of Kienbock's Disease

It is believed that genetics can possibly play a role, but no definitive link has been found. Overall, there is not a single cause. Doctors believe multiple factors are at play when a patient develops this condition, such as:

-Arterial blood supply problems

-Trauma

-Blood not properly draining through the veins

-Skeletal variations wrist pain Las Vegas

Those with cerebral palsy appear to be at an increased risk. In fact, approximately 9.4 percent of cerebral palsy patients go on to develop this condition.

Kienbock's Disease Symptoms

A number of nonspecific symptoms can occur to indicate this condition. These can include:

-Clunking or clicking in your wrist

-Tenderness on top of the lunate bone

-Pain, swelling and stiffness

-Grip strength weakening

-Pain with or trouble when trying to move your wrist upward

Getting an Accurate Diagnosis

There are different progression stages of this disease, so most patients do not have symptoms severe enough to warrant a trip to the doctor until the symptoms progress. An hip pain Las Vegas accurate diagnosis can be challenging because this is not a condition that is first suspected due to it being so rare. If a doctor does suspect this condition, he or she will start with a regular X-ray to look at the bones. An MRI can be performed to see if there is a blood supply issue concerning the lunate bone.

Treatment Options

In the early stages, doctors often recommend anti-inflammatory drugs, physical therapy, resting the affected wrist and cortisone injections. At this point, the goal is to control the symptoms and promote comfort. As symptoms worsen, doctors might recommend surgery. Patient goals and disease stage impact the recommended surgical procedures. The following are possible:

Fusion may help to stabilize the wrist and reduce pain. wrist pain Las Vegas

Joint leveling works to balance ulna and radius lengths if they are different.

Revascularization is done to try and increase the lunate bone blood supply.

Proximal row carpectomy remove the lunate bone and the two bones on each side.

Implant arthroplasty essentially replaces the lunate bone with an artificial one.

As you can see, when it comes to wrist pain in Las Vegas, sometimes the cause is not readily apparent. If you have undiagnosed wrist pain, it is important to see your doctor as soon as you can to get a diagnosis, so that you can begin treatment.