Preiser disease is avascular necrosis of the scaphoid bone. Avascular necrosis of the carpal bones is a rare and can affect the lunate, the pisiform, the capitate, and the scaphoid. Preiser disease was described by Preiser in 1910. He described this in 5 patients, all with
Image Credit: Orthobullets
previous history of wrist trauma, and scaphoid fractures in 3 of them.
The diagnosis is based on radiographic evidence of sclerosis and fragmentation of the proximal pole of the scaphoid.
It is mandatory in all cases of scaphoid nonunion to exclude osteonecrosis by MRI scans before surgery is undertaken.
Presentation
Patients with Preiser disease present with wrist pain on radial-side which starts insidiously.
On examination, there would be swelling and tenderness around the dorsoradial aspect of the wrist. There would be restriction of range of motion and grip strength.
Imaging
Early presentation may not reveal any radiological abnormality. In cases with clinical suspicion and normal radiographs, bone scan is helpful.
Changes in xrays would depend on the stage of the disease. Herbert and Lanzetta classified the stages of Preiser disease according to the radiographic appearance.
Stage I
Normal radiographs, positive bone scan.
Stage II
Increased density of proximal pole, generalized osteoporosis.
Stage III
Fragmentation of proximal pole. There could be presence of a pathological fracture.
Stage IV
Carpal collapse, osteoarthritis.
Treatment
Treatment options fro Preiser disease include
- Conservative immobilization
- Arthroscopic debridement of the necrotic scaphoid and degenerative scapholunate ligament
- Revascularization procedures
- Radial osteotomy
- Silicone replacement arthroplasty
- Four Bone fusion (capitate, hamate, lunate, and triquetrum)
- Scaphoid excision
- Poximal row carpectomy combined with scaphoid excision.
- Pronator quadratus pedicle bone graft may also be considered.
Arthroscopic debridement and drilling of the lesion is a minimally invasive technique that seems to provide pain relief for a long period of time in patients with Preiser’s disease and can be employed initially along with connserative measures like rest, splintage, and electrical stimulation.
If these measures are unsuccessful and Preiser disease progresses with the scaphoid showing collapse similar to that seen in a nonunion, a vascularized bone graft is recommended. The bone graft can be harvested from distal radius dorsally or volarly in the form of a pronator quadratus graft, or from the second metacarpal.
Preiser Disease Complications
- Degenerative changes
- Stiffness
- Weakness of wrist
- Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
- Continued pain
- Wrist instability
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I have Preiser’s Disease, stage 4 in my wrists. I would like to know if this is in the rest of my joints. Some of the nurses and physical therapists believe that it is also in my shin bone and other joints. I have needed my knees replaced for a very long time due to my age at the time. I am at the age where we thought it would be best wait, 60, and I am afraid that I have waited to long and there is damage in the bone and can’t have a knee replacement. Is this disease going to go into all the joints of the body or just the joints that have had trauma or just the wrists and the other joints will just be arthritis?
Stephanie Riddle,
Preiser Disease, as a term is used for avascular necrosis of scaphoid. From your symptoms, you seem to have some generalized disorder.
Are we talking about something else?