[Primary carpal bone defect]

We present a review of management options in case of carpal bone defect, a relatively frequent discovery. In the literature, diagnosis is usually a fortuitous radiographic finding showing one or several images of carpal defect. Pain is observed in some cases, more exceptionally pathological fracture. The scaphoid, lunatum and hamatum are most frequently involved. Bilateral defects may be observed. Different mechanisms have been put forward to explain the development of intraosseous defects in the carpal bones including intraosseous penetration of synovial tissue, or in situ metaplasia of bone tissue. The main differential diagnoses are osteonecrosis sequellae (for the lunatum and the scaphoid), subchondral defects due to hyperpression and arthropathies in dialysis patients. All authors propose simple surveillance for asymptomatic images. In case of pain, with soft tissue swelling or pathological fractures, filling-excision is warranted depending on the severity of the clinical signs. Prognosis is generally good and recurrence exceptional.