MR Imaging of Clinically Relevant Anatomy and Pathology of the Wrist Ligaments

The wrist is a complex of joints stabilized by numerous intrinsic and extrinsic ligaments. Disruption of these ligaments may lead to progressive wrist pain, instability, and joint degeneration. Therefore, early diagnosis of ligamentous derangements is important to optimize functional outcomes. MR imaging is the modality of choice for the imaging evaluation of the wrist ligaments and may assist with clinical and surgical decision-making. The objective of this article is to provide a review of the MR imaging evaluation of clinically relevant wrist ligaments through a discussion of normal anatomy and common derangements.