Correlation between clinical results and carpal instabilities in patients after reduction of lunate and perilunar...

Thirteen patients with lunate and perilunar dislocations were treated in our department in the last five years. Ten out of the thirteen patients were followed more than eight months with an average of two years and two months. Two out of the ten patients followed failed to obtain normal anatomical carpal architecture. These two patients were treated by arthrodesis of the wrist and proximal row carpectomy, respectively. The remaining eight patients, that obtained reduction, were classified into three groups according to existence of gap between the scaphoid and lunate, and incongruity between the lunate and triquetrum. Patients with a gap between the scaphoid and lunate of more than 3 millimetres after reduction of their dislocations had poor clinical results. This suggests significant correlation between clinical results and carpal instabilities.