[Arthrography of the wrist joint in acute trauma]

At least 20-25% of the patients with distal radius fractures show concomitant lesions of the intrinsic ligaments of the proximal carpal row and lesions of the triangular fibrocartilage complex. A high number of these lesions cause persistent pain and discomfort, even if there is a good radiological result. Wrist arthrography as a screening method can identify these lesions and help to select the patients in whom further diagnostic and therapeutic procedures (diagnostic arthroscopy, arthroscopical refixation of the discus or SL stabilization) should be performed. Wrist arthrography also allows cartilage lesions to be detected, as well as associated fractures or lesions of the capsular ligaments. The technique of wrist arthrography in the acute traumatized wrist, which is different from wrist arthrography in patients suffering from chronic post-traumatic pain, is described in this paper.