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.