Double Trouble: Malunited Distal Radius Fracture and Scapholunate Ligament Injury

Abstract

Background Combinations of distal radius fractures with scapholunate ligament (SL) injuries are hard to diagnose, and amalunited fractures with ligament damage are rarely discussed.

Materials and Methods Here is presented a case of a 40-year-old man with history of a malunited distal radius fracture and a scapholunate rupture with a time difference of over a decade between assumed traumatic incidents. We present the results of a simultaneous treatment of both conditions with corrective osteotomy and osteosynthesis of the distal radius combined with SL tenodesis.

Results At 2 years after the surgery, there was a significant improvement in the results of the patient's questionnaire on subjective scales, a slight improvement in the range of motion in the wrist joint.

Conclusion Despite the lack of publications on the topic in the literature, isolated problems of malunion of the distal radius fractures and the consequences of scapholunate injuries are still open for discussion. Our results suggest that when these two problems are combined, one-stage treatment can have excellent results.

Keywords

distal radius - scapholunate ligament - wrist joint - distal radius malunion - scapholunate ligament tear

Publication History

Received: 18 September 2023

Accepted: 29 April 2024

Article published online:
18 July 2024

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