[Distorsion of the wrist joint]

Wrist hyperextension is a common injury. However, obvious ligamentous ruptures are apparently seldom. The intracarpal locking phenomenon, allowing for correct load transmission, or overlooked pathology might explain this remarkable discrepancy. If the muscle tension fails, i.e., no locking phenomenon happens, and the ligaments are put under abnormal constraints with a high risk of secondary rupture. Such constraints might also appear secondary to bony alteration or previous ligamentous weakening. Patient history allows to define the pathophysiology of the accident, examination will locate the points of maximal tenderness whereas radiology allows to detect malalignment, step-off or bony anomaly. To be valid, radiology must be standardized. Accordingly we describe the radiological techniques. Scintigraphy will show if the lesion is focal (mainly osseous) or not (dystrophy). Arthrography helps to find out which group of ligaments are torn, whereas arthroscopy will quantify the tears and find out additional chondromalacia or synovitis. Magnetic resonance imaging remains limited to vascular trouble shooting. We propose a diagnostic and therapeutical scheme that will help the physician in advising the patient.