Scapholunate ligaments are found in the centre of the wrists and connect two of the small carpal bones together named the scaphoid and the lunate. The injury is often referred to, or better known as, a sprain.
The scapholunate ligaments play an important roll in ensuring the bones move in unison giving you a smooth rotation on the wrist joint.
When the Scapholunate ligaments are damaged the bones move in different directions, causing limited movement and pain when bending the wrist backwards.
Other symptoms of scapholunate ligament injury or sprain are –
- Weakened grip
- Pain in the wrist, especially down the inner side (thumb side)
- Bruising
- Snapping or popping sensation of the wrist
- Swelling
The injury is not uncommon and although it is often seen in athletes, we have seen a rise in this condition – thought to be due to home gym setups during the lockdown.
What causes a scapholunate tear?
Scapholunate tears are more often seen due to accidents, such as falls, however, as stated above, they can also be caused due to sudden weight-bearing and bad practises when exercising.
How do you treat a Scapholunate ligament injury?
A Scapholunate ligament tear will not heal without attention, and, without treatment can lead to further complications such as arthritis over time.
You can treat you Scapholunate ligament tear at home by –
Immobilisation of the wrist – Use a splint when performing day to day tasks – You should do this for a minimum of six weeks to ensure the wrist is fully recovered
Stabilising the wrist – It is important to build strength in the wrist to help prevent the injury reoccurring. Physiotherapy would be advised to help keep the wrist mobile and help stabilise over time.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication – NSAIDs such as Asprin or Ibuprofen can be obtained over the counter and will help bring down the swelling and ease the pain.
In some cases, the Scapholunate ligament tears can need surgical treatment. Currently, surgical treatments can be performed by arthroscopy.
We can also provide ultrasound-guided injections to help reduce, pain and inflammation and aid recovery.
These options can be discussed once a diagnosis has occurred.
How is a torn Scapholunate ligament diagnosed?
An assessment will be performed, firstly, on the wrist itself to check for movement. We can also check for weakness within the hand and more importantly, grip.
Depending on your diagnoses at this point, we can examine further to establish the severity of the injury. We do this by using ultrasound imaging. Once we have had a good look at the injury through ultrasound imaging, we can discuss your treatment.
Freedom clinics have a variety of specialists who can diagnose and provide the correct treatment tailored to your individual needs.
If you would like to find out more, simply contact us today.
