WRIST JOINT ARTHROGRAPHY IN ACUTE TRAUMA

At least 20-25% of the patients with distal radius fractures show conc omitant lesions of the intrinsic ligaments of the proximal carpal row and lesions of the triangular fibrocartilage complex. A high number of these lesions cause persistant pain and discomfort, even if there is a good radiological result. Wrist arthrography as a screening method c an identify these lesions and help to select the patients in whom furt her diagnostic and therapeutic procedures (diagnostic arthroscopy, art hroscopical refixation of the discus or SL stabilization) should be pe rformed. Wrist arthrography also allows cartilage lesions to be detect ed, as well as associated fractures or lesions of the capsular ligamen ts. The technique of wrist arthrography in the acute traumatized wrist , which is different from wrist arthrography in patients suffering fro m chronic post-traumatic pain, is described in this paper.