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Radiocarpal articular contact characteristics with scaphoid instability
A D Blevens1, T R Light, W S Jablonsky
1Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Loyola University School of Medicine, Maywood, Ill 60153.
The Journal of Hand Surgery
|September 1, 1989
Summary
The scapholunate interosseous ligament is crucial for wrist stability, preventing carpal instability and subsequent degenerative arthritis. Its disruption, along with other ligaments, leads to significant joint malalignment.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Biomechanics
- Anatomy
Background:
- Carpal instability can lead to degenerative arthritis.
- The role of specific periscaphoid ligaments in maintaining radiocarpal articulation requires detailed investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the relative importance of three major periscaphoid ligament complexes.
- To understand their role in maintaining normal radiocarpal articulation.
Main Methods:
- Utilized pressure-sensitive film to record changes in radioscaphoid and radiolunate articular contact.
- Performed sequential ligament sectioning in 12 cadaver wrists.
Main Results:
- Ligament disruption alters radiocarpal articular contact, even without visible static x-ray changes of instability.
- The scapholunate interosseous ligament is essential for preventing scapholunate diastasis and scaphoid subluxation.
- Combined disruption of scapholunate interosseous ligament with other specific ligaments causes rotatory subluxation of the scaphoid.
Conclusions:
- Carpal ligamentous instability, particularly involving the scapholunate interosseous ligament, is a key factor in the development of degenerative arthritis.
- Understanding these ligamentous interactions provides insight into carpal joint pathomechanics.