Kienbock’s disease remains a condition of uncertain etiology and our understanding about the pathogenesis is still evolving. However, a lack of consensus on the treatment is the most striking as there are wide array of treatment options described ranging from ‘doing nothing’ to a free vascularized bone graft reconstruction of the lunate. Furthermore, most treatment modalities report equivalent success rate but cumulative evidence is lacking. This ‘black hole’ in the literature presents difficulties to surgeons treating the condition and even patient’s confidence with the treatment. All the treatment options described reliably relieve pain, thus improving function and patient satisfaction. However, the disease process is not reliably altered by any of the treatment options described till date. The operative treatment chosen depends on the stage of the disease, ulnar variance, age of the patient and surgeon preference. The treatment options in early stage (before lunate collapse) aim to preserve the lunate while once the lunate is collapsed its removal is performed. The lunate preserving operations basically are either decreasing the load on the lunate to possibly permit its revascularization or are the procedures which are aimed at augmenting the vascularity of the lunate. Radius shortening osteotomy is the most popular treatment in the early stages especially in the patients’ with negative ulnar variance and the proximal row carpectomy is most popular in the advanced stages of the disease. Authors present their algorithm of management of Kienbock’s disease and discuss the various treatment options described in the literature in an attempt to find the apt in 2020.
The advent of nerve transfers has revolutionised the treatment of brachial plexus and peripheral nerve injuries of the upper extremity. Nerve transfers offer faster reinnervation of a denervated muscle by taking advantage of a donor nerve, branch or fascicle close to the recipient muscle. A number of considerations in respect of donor selection for nerve transfers underlie their success. In this review article, we discuss the principles of donor selection for nerve transfers, the different options available and our considerations in choosing a suitable transfer in reanimating the elbow and the shoulder. We feel this will help nerve surgeons navigate the controversies in the selection of donor nerves and make appropriate treatment decisions for their patients. Level of Evidence: V (Therapeutic)
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