- See: Carpal Instability
- Discussion:
- scaphoid normally tends to flex under compressive load, and exerts a similar influence on lunate due to ligamentous attachments;
- triquetrum tends to extend w/ compressive loading & will tend to move the lunate into extension;
- hence lunate is in a state of dynamic balance between two antagonists;
- when the dynamic balance is interrupted, the lunate will tend to flex with loss of ulnar support from the triquetrum or extend if there is loss of radial stability;
- distal carpal row:
- consisting of trapezium, trapezoid, capitate, and hamate;
- during radial to ulnar deviation distal row translates palmarly to dorsally & rotates radial to ulnar;
- total flexion and extension motion is divided equally between radio-carpal and mid carpal joints;
- proximal carpal row:
- consists of the scaphoid, lunate, and triquetrum;
- there is greater carpal bone motion in proximal row versus distal row;
- during radial to ulnar deviation, proximal row moves from flexion to extension, while the distal row translates palmarly to dorsally & rotates radial to ulnar;
- total flexion and extension motion is divided equally between radio-carpal and mid carpal joints;
- radial deviation
- induces flexion of scaphoid as trapezium approaches radius;
- scaphoid flexes to about 15 deg;
- scaphoid palmar flexes which inturn influences the lunate to palmar flex due to the attachments of the scapholunate ligament;
- lunate moves ulnarward to point where it rests on the TFCC;
- proximal carpal row rotates into a physiologic palmar flexion;
- ulnar deviation:
- hamate rotates into low position, influencing triquetrum into dorsiflexion;
- scaphoid becomes dorsiflexed as it is pulled into longitudinal attitude;
- extension of scaphoid will tend to extend lunate (due to scaphoulnate lig);
- lunate extends maximally to about 20 deg;
- Normal Carpal Alignment:
- lunate and capitate are colinear;
- scaphoid angled 45 deg (normal, 30 to 60 deg);
- Abnormal Alignment:
- abnormal volar flexion of lunate and scaphoid with +/- 30 deg volar tilt is diagnostic of a VISI deformity;
- DISI: abnormal dorsiflexion of lunate w/ vertical scaphoid;
- when lunate slips into statically fixed position > 15 deg of flexion or 10 deg of extension there is VISI or DISI;
- scapholunate alignment:
- normally about 45 deg;
- when > 70 deg there is scapholunate dissociation