Kienböck's disease: A rare wrist disorder in a young male.

ABSTRACT

Kienböck's disease is a rare disorder involving the lunate, one of the carpal bones, and is, therefore, not commonly included in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting to the emergency department with wrist pain. Delay in diagnosis inevitably leads to disease progression, thereby reducing surgical options. This article presents a patient's case including patient history, differential diagnosis, radiographic findings, and management. The challenges in the diagnosis of this disease are discussed in relation to significance to clinical practice for nurse practitioners and emergency department physicians.