[A case report: pseudarthrosis of the os lunato-triquetrum?]

The reported case is in its development, diagnostic, course, and legal aspect so extraordinary, that an explicit report is justified. The patient complained of pain in his right wrist region some days following an unusual work with a drilling machine for eight days. The X-rays six months later showed an irregular joint space between the lunate and triquetrum bone, while on his left wrist a synostosis between these bones was found. These changes seemed to be suspicious for a pseudarthrosis of a congenital synostosis, but this diagnosis led to a six years' controversy in several legal procedures. The different interpretations (judgements) by the attending doctors, specialists, and judicial experts, show again the importance of an exact early documentation with sufficient primary X-rays, eventually with comparison of the other hand. During treatment, nothing should be left undone which could support or refute especially an unusual diagnosis.