A 37-year-old man injured his right wrist in a motor vehicle collision. In the emergency department he had severe wrist pain and median nerve paresthesia. Wrist radiographs identified a dorsal perilunate dislocation (PLD) with the carpus dislocated dorsally and the lunate tilted volar but still located in the lunate fossa. Post-reduction computed tomography scan confirmed no fractures.
THE QUESTIONSWhat is the optimal surgical approach for this patient with a purely ligamentous (i.e., "lesser arc" 1 ) dorsal PLD? What bones should be immobilized and what is the best method of internal fixation?
CURRENT OPINIONPLDs are high-energy carpal injuries that result in wrist stiffness and arthrosis even if good carpal alignment is restored. 2e7 PLD merits urgent reduction when there is associated median nerve dysfunction,
CME INFORMATION AND DISCLOSURESThe Review Section of JHS will contain at least 2 clinically relevant articles selected by the editor to be offered for CME in each issue. For CME credit, the participant must read the articles in print or online and correctly answer all related questions through an online examination. The questions on the test are designed to make the reader think and will occasionally require the reader to go back and scrutinize the article for details.The JHS CME Activity fee of $15.00 includes the exam questions/answers only and does not include access to the JHS articles referenced.