Kienböck's disease a tendency of the implant to smooth the edges of the surrounding bones, thus causing painful pinched nerves when the bones slip out of place. After the lunate is removed, another procedure, "ulnar shortening" can be performed. This relieves pressure on the newly formed wrist joint of the pisiform, hamate and capitate. Depending on the surgeon, the procedure may be performed the same way as the "radial shortening" where a small section is removed, or the entire top of the ulna may be excised. At Stage 4, the lunate has completely disintegrated and the other bones in the wrist have
Hamate bone usually a hairline fracture, commonly missed on normal X-rays. Symptoms are pain aggravated by gripping, tenderness over the hamate and symptoms of irritation of the ulnar nerve. This is characterized by numbness and weakness of the pinkie finger with partial involvement of the ring finger as well, the "ulnar 1½ fingers". The hook of hamate is particularly prone to fracture-related complications such as non-union due to its tenuous blood supply. It is also a common injury in baseball players. Several professional baseball players have had the bone removed during the course of their careers. This condition has been called "Wilson's