Difference in Carpal Alignment between Scapholunate Dissociation and Kienbock Disease: A Retrospective Study

Introduction Scapholunate dissociation is the most frequent type of wrist instability and, if untreated, can lead to wrist osteoarthritis, known as scapholunate advanced collapse. Kienbock disease can also lead to wrist osteoarthritis. Both involve carpal instability; however, the possibility of completely different mechanisms underlying each ligamentous state and carpal malalignment must be considered. Materials and Methods We retrospectively reviewed 17 patients with scapholunate dissociation and 14 patients with Kienbock disease. All arthroscopic findings for scapholunate dissociation were classified as Geissler grade 4. All cases of Kienbock disease were treated by lunate resection and vascularized pisiform transfer without interosseous ligament reconstruction. Carpal alignments were evaluated from pre- and postoperative radiographs. Results Scapholunate dissociation showed greater lunate dorsiflexion and more dorsal locations of the scaphoid and capitate compared with Kienbock disease, but preoperative scaphoid flexion was similar in both groups. Eleven of 17 cases of scapholunate dissociation and no cases of Kienbock disease showed dorsal subluxation of the scaphoid preoperatively. Postoperative radiographs revealed no progression of carpal collapse in either groups. Conclusion This study revealed the sacrifice of the scapholunate/lunotriquetral interosseous ligament do not incur static scapholunate dissociation, and that the secondary stabilizers may preserve carpal alignment.

Bilateral Radial Club Hands at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana: A Case Report.

Radial Club Hand (RCH) is a rare and complex congenital disorder of the pre-axial border of the upper extremity. It is a congenital longitudinal radial ray deficiency which presents as radial deviation of the hand and distal forearm in the shape of a golf club 1, 2. Radial ray deficiency (the most common type of longitudinal failure of formation) is a spectrum of malformations affecting the structures of the radial side of the forearm, including hypoplasia of the bones, joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves and blood vessels. The thumb dysfunction, wrist instability and short upper extremity that accompany this condition can cause significant functional impairment particularly in patients with bilateral involvement. Thus, the performance of activities of daily living such as accomplishing personal hygiene, fastening buttons and zippers becomes challenging 3.

Surgical Repair of Acute TFCC Injury

Triangular fibrocartilage complex tears are a common source of ulnar-sided wrist pain and distal radioulnar joint instability. Symptoms recalcitrant to conservative management or injuries in high-demand athletes may indicate surgical management. Both open and arthroscopic techniques offer improvements in objective measures, patient-centered outcome scores, and return to work, but may be complicated by nerve irritation, persistent wrist instability, and pain. Recently developed knotless arthroscopic techniques are not well studied but may limit morbidity.

RADIOGRAPHIC SIGNS OF STATIC CARPAL INSTABILITY WITH DISTAL END RADIUS FRACTURES: IS CURRENT TREATMENT ADEQUATE?

Patients presenting with distal end radius fractures may have concomitant carpal instability due to disruption of the scapholunate ligament. This study examined the incidence of static radiographic signs of carpal instability in patients with distal radial fractures before and after fracture treatment. We performed a retrospective radiographic study of 141 patients presenting to Central Middlesex Hospital, London between January 2002–May 2004 with distal end radius fractures. We used abnormal scapholunate angle as the primary indicator of possible carpal dissociation. Abnormal scapholunate angles were noted in 39% of patients at presentation and 35% of patients after treatment with no statistically significant intra-patient variability. Persistent static radiographic signs of carpal instability are high in this subset of patients. The long-term morbidity of persistent wrist instability may be avoided by early radiological diagnosis with clinical correlation to identify carpal ligament injuries and initiate treatment that addresses both the bony and ligamentous components of the injury.