ARTHROSCOPIC DIAGNOSIS OF SCAPHOLUNATE INSTABILITY IN THE ABSENCE OF X-RAY ABNORMALITIES

26 patients with at least one clinical symptom that could indicate a t ear of the scapho-lunate interosseous ligament but normal static and d ynamic radiographs were examined by arthroscopy. We found that a diagn osis of scapho-lunate instability could be established by dynamic mano euvres during radio-carpal and mid-carpal arthroscopy. Five patients w ere found to have true scapho-lunate instability. Six tears of the int erosseous ligament without instability were also detected but it was d oubtful if the tear was the origin of the painful symptomatology. This experience suggests that dynamic manoeuvres during arthroscopy are su perior to other methods in diagnosing scapho-lunate instabilities at t he pre-radiographic stage.