An international opinion research survey of the etiology, diagnosis, therapy and outcome of Kienböck's disease (KD).

OBJECTIVES: Every fourth publication on Kienböck's disease (KD) is based for the most part on rather divergent expert opinion. We therefore surveyed expert opinion on KD in three European countries: (1) for the suspected aetiologies; (2) routinely used diagnostic tools; (3) recommended treatment and (4) expected outcome. METHODS: A questionnaire consisting of 16 questions was handed out at the national meetings for surgery of the hand in Germany (DE), France (FR) in 2009 and in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2010. RESULTS: Among the 126 surgeons who participated in the survey, 82 had a national diploma for surgery of the hand. None of the most commonly discussed etiopathological hypotheses were estimated as being very likely. Hand/arm vibration exposure was considered less likely among respondents in France and the UK than among respondents in Germany. Treatment recommendations are very heterogeneous for stage IIIB according to Lichtman. CONCLUSIONS: Expert opinions on diagnostic criteria, the pathogenesis and the choice of treatment are not consistent and may vary from one country to another.