What is scapholunate instability?

Scapholunate Dissociation – Physiopedia Definition/Description Scapholunate dissociation is the most common and most significant ligamentous injury of the wrist.[1][2] Scapholunate instability is the most frequent pattern of carpal instability occurring separately and as part of other wrist disorders.[3] It results …

What causes scapholunate instability?

Scapholunate instability (the most common instability in the wrist) occurs when a person experiences a fall onto an outstretched hand (FOOSH) with the wrist positioned in extension, ulnar deviation, and intercarpal supination.

How do you fix scapholunate instability?

3 Main Treatments for a Scapholunate Ligament Injury

1. Immobilization of the Wrist. Immobilization with a wrist orthosis in the acute stages is a common intervention provided by a therapist in the acute stage.
2. Wrist Stabilization. Wrist stabilization involves strengthening the SL “friendly” muscles.
3. Proprioceptive Exercise.

Is scapholunate dissociation a disability?

As noted above, the veteran’s scapholunate dissociation disability is currently rated as 20 percent disabling and is manifested by pain, limitation of motion, and arthritis.

What does a scapholunate ligament tear feel like?

What are the symptoms of a scapholunate ligament injury? Often a fall has been the cause of the injury, and symptoms of wrist pain follow. There may be swelling, reduced grip strength, pain over the area of the scapholunate ligament and a sensation of instability of the wrist with actitvities.

How do you fix a scapholunate ligament?

If this non-operative treatment does not work, surgery may be considered to repair or reconstruct the ligament to help align the wrist bones. This can be done with arthroscopy or an open surgery. Repair or reconstruction of the ligament can lead to wrist stiffness, but the wrist will be more stable.

How do you fix scapholunate dissociation?

Scapholunate dissociation does not heal by itself. In the majority of cases, surgery is required to repair the ligament which holds to the two wrist bones together. Following surgery, a cast is normally worn for a number of weeks to allow the repaired tissues to heal.

What does the Scapholunate ligament control?

A very common ligament injured in a sprained wrist is the scapholunate ligament. This ligament is in the middle of the wrist between the scaphoid and lunate bones (Figure 1). It is an important structure for painless and full wrist motion.

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 do the abbreviations for scapholunate instability mean?

Table 1 – Abbreviations DCSS Dorsal capsulo-scapholunate septum DIC ligament Dorsal intercarpal ligament DISI Dorsal intercalated segmental instabilit DRC ligament Dorsal radiocarpal ligament

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 do you need to know about scapholunate dissociation?

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. Carpal dissociation implies carpal instability,…

What causes the instability of the scapholunate ligament?

Scapholunate instability can result from several occurrences: 1 Discontinuity of the ligament 2 Complete absence of the scapholunate ligament 3 The occurrence of fraying, thinning and/or irregularity of the ligament 4 Stretched or elongated ligament More