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Scapholunate and perilunate injuries in the athlete

  • Hand and Wrist Sports Medicine (E Tolo and L Dwyer, section editors)
  • Published:
Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of the review

Scapholunate and perilunate injuries can be difficult to diagnose and treat in the athlete. In this review article, we present the mechanism of injury, evaluation, management, and outcomes of treatment for these injuries.

Recent findings

Acute repair of dynamic scapholunate ligament injuries remains the gold standard, but judicious use of a wrist splint can be considered for the elite athlete who is in season. The treatment of static scapholunate ligament injury remains controversial. Newer SL reconstructive techniques that aim to restore scapholunate function without compromising wrist mobility as much as tenodesis procedures show promise in athlete patients.

Summary

Acute injuries to the scapholunate ligament are best treated aggressively in order to prevent the sequelae of wrist arthritis associated with long-standing ligamentous injury. Acute repair is favored. Reconstructive surgical procedures to manage chronic scapholunate injury remain inferior to acute repair. The treatment of lunotriquetral ligament injuries is not well defined.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation, University of Vermont College of Medicine, 95 Carrigan Drive Stafford Hall, Burlington, VT, 05405, USA

    Nathan T. Morrell, Amanda Moyer & Adam B. Shafritz

  2. University of Vermont College of Medicine, The University of Vermont Medical Center, Burlington, VT, USA

    Noah Quinlan

Authors
  1. Nathan T. Morrell
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  2. Amanda Moyer
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  3. Noah Quinlan
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  4. Adam B. Shafritz
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Correspondence to Adam B. Shafritz.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Hand and Wrist Sports Medicine

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Morrell, N.T., Moyer, A., Quinlan, N. et al. Scapholunate and perilunate injuries in the athlete. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med 10, 45–52 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12178-017-9383-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12178-017-9383-x

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