LIGAMENTOUS INSTABILITIES OF THE WRIST

Carpal ligament instabilities are conditions in which the individual c arpal bones have become unstable due to abnormal ligament support. Ear ly diagnosis of ligamentous wrist instabilities is important because l ate diagnosis or failed diagnosis may lead to severe complications suc h as osteoarthritis. This article reviews the most common ligamentous instability patterns of the wrist and focuses on how to perform and ob tain radiograms which will allow reliable diagnosis of wrist instabili ties. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.