SCAPHOLUNATE LIGAMENT - NORMAL MR APPEARANCE ON 3-DIMENSIONAL GRADIENT-RECALLED-ECHO IMAGES

PURPOSE: To evaluate the (a) capability of coronal three-dimensional ( 3D) gradient-recalled-echo (GRE) images in the demonstration of the vo lar, middle, and dorsal portions of the scapholunate Ligament (SLL); ( b) normal magnetic resonance (MR) appearance of these portions and of their attachment to the lunate and scaphoid; and (c) normal appearance of the ligament-cartilage interface for various portions of the SLL. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Coronal 3D GRE imaging was used to study the vo lar, middle, and dorsal portions of the SLL in 14 patients with an art hroscopically normal SLL and in five cadaveric wrists that had a norma l SLL proved with dissection. RESULTS: The trapezoidal volar portion o f the SLL, was seen with inhomogeneous high intermediate signal intens ity and attached directly to the lunate and scaphoid cortex. The trian gular middle portion was seen with inhomogeneous intermediate signal i ntensity and in most cases attached to the hyaline cartilage of the lu nate and scaphoid. The low-signal-intensity bandlike dorsal portion at tached either to the cartilage, cartilage and cortex, or cortex alone of the lunate and scaphoid. CONCLUSION: The volar, middle, and dorsal portions of the SLL can be differentiated on the basis of MR appearanc e on 3D GRE images. The various portions attach to cartilage and/or to cortex, and the appearance of the Ligament-cartilage interface follow s a specific pattern.