What causes wrist instability?
Instability can occur as a result of ligaments tearing, or what are rarer, carpal bones fractures (1). Dorsal flexion instability is the most common type of carpal instability, and usually occurs in case of fall on prone, dorsal flexed wrist.
How do you fix the instability in your wrist?
Thin surgical instruments are inserted for surgery. An arthroscope may be used to reconstruct, trim, and repair torn ligaments. Surgery to repair carpal instability is usually followed by a period of immobilization with splinting or casting, followed by hand therapy rehabilitation.
How is carpal instability diagnosed?
Provocative maneuvers such as the Watson test and scaphoid ballottement test are helpful. The Watson test (also known as the scaphoid shift test) is perhaps the most important exam maneuver when there is suspicion for carpal instability. The Watson test is used to identify scapholunate ligament tears.
What is a DISI wrist?
Dorsal intercalated segment instability (DISI) is a form of carpal instability featuring dorsal tilt of the lunate. It occurs mainly after the disruption of the scapholunate ligament and is more often encountered than volar intercalated segment instability (VISI).
How is carpal instability treated?
Carpal instabilities diagnosed within 4 to 6 weeks of the injury are treated by arthroscopic evaluation and either closed reduction and arthroscopically guided pinning or open ligament repair. Injuries diagnosed between 6 weeks and 6 months after injury are treated by open ligament repair and ligament augmentation.
Why does my tendon pop out of my wrist?
When the tendon in the wrist that connects the joint to the bone is damaged, it begins to rub over the bone or muscles in its way (instead of moving fluidly) and causes the “snapping” or “popping” sensation. The tendon moves in this irregular way because its foundation, the ligaments, have also become damaged or lax.
Does carpal instability hurt?
[4] The patient will have complaints of pain in the involved wrist, specifically around the scaphoid and lunate bones. The pain can be chronic if there is no history of trauma, or acute if the injury is the result of trauma.
What is scapholunate instability?
The terms “scapholunate (SL) dissociation” and “SL instability” refer to one of the most frequent types of wrist instability, resulting from rupture or attenuation of the SL supporting ligaments. Such a lack of symptoms suggests that a ligament rupture, in itself, is not enough for a joint to become unstable.
How is scapholunate instability treated?
3 Main Treatments for a Scapholunate Ligament Injury
- Immobilization of the Wrist. Immobilization with a wrist orthosis in the acute stages is a common intervention provided by a therapist in the acute stage.
- Wrist Stabilization. Wrist stabilization involves strengthening the SL “friendly” muscles.
- Proprioceptive Exercise.
