Scapholunate ligament tear

[Pinkie15]

Starts in mid-October last year, slipped on the wooden sleepers by the front path, fall onto outstretched hand.

Hurt like Billy-oh at the time and have been treated over the subsequent 3 months as if for scaphoid fracture.

No fracture readily identifiable on x-ray (not unusual for scaph fracture), but with continued pain/tenderness had a mri early Jan, informed at fracture (sorry, trauma and orthopaedic) clinic yesterday that it is a SLL tear (readily visible on all planes of the scan) and will be referred to 'hand' clinic.

Just wondering if anyone, as patient or doctor, has experience and (possibly) knows what I can look forward to over the coming weeks /months ?

[Pinkie15]

Bit of a bump

Got copy of referral letter, clearer description of damage;

"MRI shows significant partial injury of the SLL involving volar & intermittent components & there is slight increased SL interval"

Anyone know if this means surgical repair required, or can it be managed conservatively with physio ?

[The_Doc]

The only person I think who is going to accurately tell you what happens next, is a Hand Surgeon.
I don't think any frequent here.
It's very specialised.
What I remember from my exam, has faded now.

[Pinkie15]

The_Doc said:

The only person I think who is going to accurately tell you what happens next, is a Hand Surgeon.
I don't think any frequent here.
It's very specialised.
What I remember from my exam, has faded now.

Thanks for the reply, thought that would probably be the case, but sometimes you just never know/get lucky

[Pinkie15]

Update, prob more for me, but if any ever searches there's something more to read.

Had wrist arthroscopy on Tuesday, done with nerve block, so you don't know you've got an arm (think Harry Potter scene after Branagh vanishes his arm bones)

The volar (palm side) of the Scapholunate intact, but dorsal (other side) completely shredded, but surgeon couldn't get probe in between the bones, so stable for now at least. Odd the MRI said complete opposite, almost like it was read upside-down.

However, surgeon could feel wrist clicking & clunking, bit more rooting around. Never a good sign when the doc says 'oh'. Reason for the 'oh' was discovery that the lunotriquetral ligament fubared, no sign of fibrous/stringy remnants either. Maybe chronic injury only come to light cos of this fall/injury. Initial view that further intervention will be required.

Another MRI and further discussion with consultant await.