Fractures and dislocations of the

carpusBy Gatobu

6A

Scope

• Introduction• Anatomy• Imaging of carpal bones• Lunate fractures/lunate dislocation• Perilunate dislocation

Introduction

• Carpus is a complex unit of bony articulations that transfers the forces of the hand to the supporting forearm and upper extremity• Allows wide range of motion in 2 planes• Carpal bones are 8 in number arranged in 2 rows• Main motions

• Extension• Flexion• Radial and ulnar deviation

• The primary axis of motion resides within the head of carpitate.

General, surgical and applied anatomy• Bones and joints• Composed of 8 bones in 2 rows• The 8 bones are influenced by

• Shape of distal radius• The distal ulnar• Triangular fibrocartilage complex

Anatomy of the Wrist

• Carpal bones tightly linked by capsular and interosseous ligaments.• Capsular (extrinsic) ligaments originate from the radius and insert

onto the carpus.• Interosseous (intrinsic) ligaments traverse the carpal bones.• The lunate is the key to carpal stability.

Extrinsic ligaments

Extrinsic ligaments link the carpal bones to the radius, ulna, and metacarpals.

Intrinsic ligaments

The intra-articular intrinsic ligaments connect adjacent carpal bones.

Lunate

• Connected to both scaphoid and triquetrum by strong interosseous ligaments.

• Injury to the scapholunate or lunotriquetral ligaments leads to asynchronous motion of the lunate and leads to dissociative carpal instability.

Intercarpal Ligaments

•Injury to these ligaments leads to abnormal motion between the two rows, and non-dissociative wrist instability patterns.

Neurovascular anatomy

Circulation of the wrist is obtained through the radial, ulnar, and anterior interosseous arteries and the deep palmar arch

Neurovascular anatomy

• The scaphoid, capitate, and about 20% of all lunates are supplied by a single vessel and thus are at risk for avascular necrosis.• The trapezium, triquetrum, pisiform, and 80% of lunates receive

nutrient arteries through two nonarticular surfaces and have consistent intraosseous anastomoses. AVN is therefore rare.• The trapezoid and hamate lack an intraosseous anastomosis and,

after fracture, can have avascular fragments.

Mechanism of injury

• Most common is an axial compression force applied with the wrist in hyperextension

• Most common injury is a fall on the outstretched hand• Other mechanisms• Palmer flexion,twisting injuries

Mechanism of injury

• High energy forces• Results in carpal bone fractures or ligamentous disruption of both extrinsic

and extrinsic ligaments and perilunate dislocation

• Low energy forces results in minor injuries such as sprains

Imaging

• Plain radiographs: multiple views necessary:• Anteroposterior• Lateral • Oblique• Clenched-fist AP• Radial and ulnar deviation

Imaging

Gilula's lines. A. AP views show three smooth Gilula arcs in a normal wrist. These arcs outline proximal and distal surfaces of the proximal carpal row and the proximal cortical margins of capitate and hamate. B. Arc I is broken, which indicates an abnormal lunotriquetral joint due to a perilunate dislocation. .

Imaging

• Standard scaphoid views detect most carpal injuries• PA x-ray with wrist neutral and in ulnar deviation• elongates scaphoid to better visualize

• MRI scans are useful in detecting occult fractures, AVN of the carpal bones, and ligamentous injuries.• Perilunate dislocations are easily missed if the continuity of Gilula's

line is not assessed.

General Principles of Treatment

• Carefully evaluate x-rays for subtle fractures and/or evidence of carpal instability.

• Reduce and immobilize scaphoid fractures or perilunate injuries pending definitive treatment.

• Diagnose and appropriately treat ligament and bony injuries.

Lunate fractures

• Rare• <1% of all carpal fractures• Isolated fractures of lunate often missed

Lunate anatomy

• Sits like a keystone in the proximal row• Well protected in concavity of the lunate fossa of the radius• Vascular supply-proximal carpal arcade dorsally,palmarly• 7-26% of lunates have single volar or dorsal blood supply

Mechanism of injury

• Hyperextension injury• Others:• repetitive stresses of the wrist• Strenuous push • Avulsion of the dorsal pole( S-L tension)

Classification of lunate fractures

• Acute fractures are classified in 5 groups:• Frontal fracture of palmer pole• Osteochondral fractures of the proximal articular surface• Frontal fracture of the dorsal pole • Transverse fracture of the body• Trans articular fracture of the body

Imaging

• Plain radiographs• Technetium 99m bone scan• CT scan• Arthroscopic exam

Lunate fractures

• MRI

Management of lunate fractures

• Undisplaced-cast immobilization for 4wks• ORIF• Displaced fractures• Associated carpal instability• Non-union

Perilunate dislocation

• Triquetral and scaphoid malrotation• Result of a fall on an outstretched, hyperextended hand• Relatively rare • Occurs when the lunate maintains normal position with respect to

the distal radius while all other carpal bones are dislocated posteriorly

Perilunate dislocation

• Very commonly associated with a scaphoid waist fracture • Sometimes ulnar styloid as well

• Lunate appears triangular in shape on PA view• Lunate rotates forward slightly on lateral view• In lateral view, all other carpal bones are dislocated posterior with

respect to lunate

Perilunate dislocation

Perilunate dislocation

• Represents 2nd of the 4 stages of ligamentous injury around lunate bone resulting from forced hyperextension• They are referred to as lesser arc injuries• The 4 stages of injury are:• Scapholunate dissociation(stage I)• Perilunate dislocation(II)• Midcarpal dislocation(III)• Lunate dislocation(IV)

• With increasing hyperextension perilunate dislocation may become a lunate dislocation

Mechanism of Injury

• Load applied to hand forcing the wrist into extension and ulnar deviation• Severe ligament injury necessary to tear the distal row

from the lunate to produce perilunate dislocation

Physical Exam

• Dorsal displacement of the carpus may be seen• Significant swelling common• Evaluate for compartment syndrome

• If lunate is dislocated, median nerve symptoms may be present

Imaging

Imaging

• Note lack of “colinearity” among the radius, lunate, and capitate on the lateral x-ray.

Imaging

• Note loss of normal carpal “arcs” and abnormal widening of the scapholunate interval.

• Look for associated fractures “trans-scaphoid” injuries

X-ray usually Obvious

X-ray may be subtle

Initial Treatment

• Closed reduction is performed with adequate sedation.

• Early surgical reconstruction if swelling allows.

• Immediate surgery needed if there are signs of median nerve compromise.

• Delayed reconstruction if early intervention is not necessary.

Technique of Closed Reduction

• Longitudinal traction for 5 -10 minutes• For dorsal perilunate injuries: apply dorsal directed pressure to the

lunate volarly while a reduction maneuver is applied to the hand and distal carpal row• Palmar flexion then reduces the capitate into the concavity of the

lunate.

Closed Reduction and Pinning

• Poor results with closed reduction and pinning alone

• Very difficult to reduce adequately• wrist needs to be ulnarly deviated to correct

scaphoid flexion• radial deviation needed to close S-L gap

ORIF with volar and dorsal approaches Procedure of Choice

Dorsal Approach

Repair S-L ligament

Volar Approach

Reduce lunate first- may need to temporary pin to radius

Pin Carpus: S-L, L-T and mid-carpal joints

Trans-scaphoid Perilunate Injuries

• Require reduction and fixation of the fractured scaphoid.• Most of these injuries best treated • ORIF with volar and dorsal approaches • repair of injured structures.

• Open repair supplemented by pin and screw fixation.

Fix scaphoid first: dorsal approach

Pin L-T and Mid-carpal joints

Make sure Radius-Lunate-

Capitate are colinear and S-L

angle restored

Perilunate Injuries Conclusion• Perilunate fracture dislocations are high-energy

injuries• Must recognize different injury patterns• transcaphoid• pure ligamentous• trans radial-styloid

• Early open and anatomic fixation with volar and dorsal approaches provides the best chance at a reasonable functional result

Perilunate dislocation conclusion

• Median nerve dysfunction- 16% of the patients• 16-25% of perilunate dislocations are missed initially

Lunate dislocation

• Most severe of carpal instabilities

Most frequently dislocated carpal bone

• Most commonly associated with a trans-scaphoid fracture

• Involves all the intercarpal joints and disruption of most of the major carpal ligaments

• Produces volar dislocation and forward rotation of lunate Concave distal surface of lunate comes to face anteriorly

Lunate dislocation

• Capitate drops into space vacated by lunate • Results in dislocation of other carpal bones

• Capitate and all other carpal bones lie posterior to lunate on lateral radiograph

• Triangular appearance of lunate on frontal projection (piece of pie sign)• Spilled tea cup sign (lateral view)

Lunate dislocation

Lunate dislocation

Dislocated Lunate

s/s• tenderness•Swelling •ROM painful & limited•May compress median nerve

Lunate dislocation

• Dislocation usually occurs in two steps – 1st the ligaments are torn and then the bone dislocates• + Murphy’s sign

Murphy’s Sign – pt makes a fist. • Indication – lunate dislocation

Lunate dislocation-imaging

comparison

Other imaging modalities

• CT scan• MRI

Treatment

• Closed reduction at A/E• ORIF

Complications

• Wrist arthritis• Persistent pain• Joint instability• Recovery takes at least 6months

Thank you