First-stage scapholunate fusion for the treatment of a chronic lunate dislocation: A case report

Lunate dislocation is a rare injury to the wrist caused by high-energy trauma, and poor prognosis is often associated with missed initial diagnosis. To date, there is no consensus regarding an effective treatment plan for such cases.

Here, we describe the case of a 36-year-old man who presented with lunate dislocation following a delay in diagnosis of over 7 weeks, and further illuminate its diagnosis and treatment.

The diagnosis of chronic lunate dislocation was rendered.

The patient was treated using reduction via the dorsal approach brachial plexus anesthesia. After the reduction, a headless compression screw fixation was performed for first-stage scapholunate fusion, and Kirschner wire fixation of the lunate-triquetrum-hamate was used to stabilize the distal and proximal carpal rows.

The patient was followed up for 1 year and showed wrist function recovered well; radiographic examination showed no lunate dislocation and successful scapholunate bony fusion. A satisfactory outcome was achieved.

The case study presented here provide evidence that performing an effective first-stage scapholunate fusion is recommended to achieve better therapeutic outcomes for a chronic lunate dislocation. Furthermore, this approach led to a good long-term clinical outcome in our case.