Arthroscopic Repair of the Dorsal Intercarpal Ligament Detachment from the Scaphoid

Abstract

Background The dorsal intercarpal ligament, whose role in dorsal stability of the wrist has been shown, can be harmed in case of injury to the dorsal scapholunate complex. However, dorsal intercarpal ligament injury also seems to exist isolated posttraumatic forms of dorsal intercarpal ligament rupture, much rarer, through bony avulsion on its scaphoid insertion. The authors report the first description of this lesion, and propose a technique for arthroscopic repair.

Description of Technique Radiocarpal arthroscopy will confirm the bony avulsion of the dorsal intercarpal ligament from the scaphoid. Under arthroscopic control, an anchor can be placed into the dorsal aspect of the scaphoid and the ligament can be reattached along with the dorsal capsule.

Patients and Methods Between 2018 and 2020, seven patients underwent arthroscopic repair of this particular injury. They presented a painful preoperative wrist with decreased range of motion, and were treated arthroscopically, with anchored reinsertion of the ligament on the scaphoid.

Results After a mean follow-up period of 12 months, arthroscopic repair showed decreased pain (6.7 to 0.2), improved range of motion in flexion (66 to 82 degrees) and extension (57 to 87 degrees°), and improved Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score (68.45 to 2.23).

Conclusions This lesion has so far never been reported in the literature, and seems mechanically different from more common injuries of the scapholunate complex and dorsal capsulo-scapholunate septum with which dorsal intercarpal ligament ruptures are frequently associated. Arthroscopic repair with an anchor is possible without difficulty and seems to give very good results at 1-year follow-up (normal strength and range of motion).

Keywords

wrist arthroscopy - carpal ligaments - dorsal intercarpal ligament - extrinsic ligament repair

Note

This study was performed at the International Wrist Center (IWC), Paris, France.

Publication History

Received: 27 June 2019

Accepted: 10 March 2021

Article published online:
01 May 2021

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