Abstract
Introduction
The scapholunate interosseous ligament (SLIL) is commonly ruptured following a fall onto the outstretched hand. This ligament has three subregions: dorsal, proximal, and volar. The SLIL enthesis, a specialised region where this ligament attaches to the scaphoid and lunate, has not previously been studied despite its important mechanical function in the wrist joint biomechanics. This study therefore aims to compare the histomorphological differences between the three SLIL subregions, including at their entheses, to inform subregion prioritisation during surgical reconstruction.
Method
Twelve fresh-frozen human cadaveric wrists were dissected and the gross dimensions of the SLIL subregions measured. Subregions were histologically processed for analysis, including quantification of enthesis calcified fibrocartilage (CF) area.
Results
From the gross measurements, the dorsal subregion was the thickest (dorsal=3.04 ± 0.26mm, volar=1.69 ± 0.08mm, proximal=1.51 ± 0.06mm). The dorsal and volar subregions had fibrocartilaginous entheses while the proximal subregion was attached to articular cartilage. The dorsal subregion had significantly more CF than the volar subregion.
Conclusions
The dorsal subregion is the thickest and has the greatest CF area, which is consistent with the greatest biomechanical force subjected to this subregion. These results confirm that the dorsal subregion is the strongest subregion, suggesting important implications in the study of graft incorporation during SLIL reconstruction.