How is scapholunate dissociation diagnosed?

An orthopaedic surgeon is very important in the initial treatment of scapholunate dissociation. They can diagnose your injury and the extent of the damage using an X-ray or CT scan to view the tissues in the wrist joint. From this they will be able to determine an appropriate treatment plan.

What is a scapholunate dislocation?

Scapholunate (SL) dissociation is part of a spectrum of traumatic carpal bone instabilities and is defined as disruption of the ligamentous complex holding the scaphoid and lunate together.1 The SL ligament complex consists of the volar, dorsal, and intermediate components, with the dorsal component being the strongest …

What is mild scapholunate dissociation?

Scapholunate dissociation, also known as rotary subluxation of the scaphoid, refers to an abnormal orientation of the scaphoid relative to the lunate and implies severe injury to the scapholunate interosseous ligament and other stabilizing ligaments.

What is the scapholunate interval?

The scapholunate interval is the radiographic measurement of the scapholunate joint on PA wrist projections. Abnormal widening is indicative of injury to the scapholunate ligament that occurs with scapholunate dissociation.

Can a scapholunate injury cause Disi deformity?

Scapholunate ligament injury is a source of dorsoradial wrist pain with chronic injuries leading to a form of wrist instability (DISI deformity). Diagnosis is made with PA wrist radiographs showing widening of the SL joint.

What is the differential diagnosis of scapholunate dissociation?

The differential diagnosis includes the following: wrist contusion, radial styloid fracture, scaphoid fracture, scapholunate dislocation, ulnar fracture, triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) tear, perilunate dislocation, and gonococcal septic arthritis, as well as rheumatological conditions and other carpal fractures.

Can a scaphoid dissociate into a SLAC wrist?

diastasis of the scapholunate complex occurs with complete SLIL tears and capsule disruption. Associated injuries. DISI (dorsal intercalated segmental instability) scapholunate dissociation causes the scaphoid to flex palmar and the lunate to dorsiflex; if left untreated the DISI deformity can progress into a SLAC wrist

What are the radiographic signs of scapholunate instability?

Figure 8b shows DISI, where the scaphoid rotates into flexion and the lunate rotates into extension, thus increasing the scapholunate and radiolunate angles. Two other radiographic signs can be seen with scapholunate malalignment: the ring sign and the palmar “V” sign.