The scapholunate ligament is located between the scaphoid and the lunate, two of the carpal bones of the wrist. Injury to this connecting ligament can cause the wrist to become unstable.
Wrist Instability (Scapholunate Ligament Injuries)
The ligament supporting the scapholunate joint is the most injured ligament in the wrist. Falling onto an outstretched hand can cause this injury. Repeated impact by weight-bearing through the hands and wrists in sports like gymnastics can also result in ligament damage and wrist instability over time.
Minor scapholunate ligament injuries may be able to heal with a cast or splint that stabilizes the joint. More often, surgery for wrist instability is needed to restore stability to the joint.
There are several different types of surgery that can be performed to treat wrist instability from a scapholunate ligament injury. These include repairing or reconstructing the damaged ligament, stabilizing the bones together with metal implants, or removing misaligned bone from the wrist.
During wrist instability surgery, an incision is made along the back of the wrist. This allows a surgeon to access the scapholunate ligament to restore its stability.
