SCAPHOLUNATE LIGAMENT INJURY

What is the scapholunate ligament?

The Scapholunate Ligament is an important ligament inside the wrist that maintains the position and movements of the scaphoid and lunate bones ensuring that the two move in unison and that the wrist can rotate smoothly. It is because of this function that the scapholunate ligament can have such a debilitating effect on the body when it is damaged. Injuries most commonly occur or sustain damage during high intensity sporting activity. Symptoms may include pain, swelling, bruising, loss of grip strength, clicking and giving way. Long term problems can lead to arthritis.

How do you diagnose a scapholunate ligament injury?

At the Hand Specialist in London we can administer examinations, x-rays, ultrasound, MRI and keyhole surgery to identify whether or not you have incurred a ligament injury. We will describe the process required after our examination and recommend the best course of action at the private hand surgery.

If I have a scapholunate injury what happens next?

The process of treatment for this type of injury varies from case to case. The next steps for treatment depend entirely on how badly the ligament has been damaged. Partial injuries to the ligament can often be treated without surgery. Options such as a splint and specialist physiotherapy can be sufficient. However in the cases that the injury is more significant patients will often need surgery in the form of repair or reconstruction.

What if I am unsure?

If you are unsure if you have a ligament injury, or you would like to find out the extent of the damage that you have sustained please get in touch and we will be happy to advise you.