Arthrography of the wrist

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Radiology
• Sports Medicine

Background:

• Posttraumatic wrist pain is a common clinical problem.
• Accurate diagnosis of internal wrist derangement is crucial for effective management.
• Traditional imaging may not fully reveal subtle wrist pathologies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the diagnostic utility of wrist arthrography in patients with posttraumatic wrist pain.
• To assess the ability of arthrography to delineate specific intra-articular pathologies.
• To compare arthrographic findings with conventional radiography and surgical outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Eighty-four wrist arthrograms were performed on 76 patients with posttraumatic wrist pain.
• Contrast media was instilled into the radiocarpal joint under fluoroscopic guidance.
• Arthrographic findings were compared with plane radiographs (74 patients) and operative findings (24 patients).

Main Results:

• Wrist arthrography proved helpful in delineating specific areas of pathology.
• The technique accurately identified perforations of the scapholunate ligament.
• It was also effective in detecting tears of the lunotriquetral ligament, triangular fibrocartilage complex, and wrist joint capsule.

Conclusions:

• Wrist arthrography is a valuable tool for diagnosing internal derangements in posttraumatic wrist pain.
• It offers superior delineation of ligamentous and fibrocartilaginous structures compared to plane films.
• Arthrography aids in precise localization of injuries, guiding surgical intervention.