Orthopedic Treatment For Scapholunate Ligament Tear

Scapholunate is the ligament connecting scaphoid and lunate, the two small carpal bones present in the center of the wrist. The ligament helps in ensuring that the wrist moves smoothly and the bones move together. When the Scapholunate Ligament tears, not only is the pain excruciating but the bearer loses his ability to grip objects firmly as well. Athletes mainly those who pertain to sports which involve gripping a racquet or a bat are quite susceptible to tearing their Scapholunate Ligament.
 

Symptoms: 

• Pain in the wrist
• Pain towards the thumb
• A popping sound in the wrist at the time of the injury
• Weakened grip
• Bruising or swelling of the wrist
• Difficulty while moving the wrist in a rotating motion

Causes:

• Taking a fall, wrist first
• Lifting excessive weight using the wrist
• Playing high impact shots in certain sports
• Any one of the above mentioned mishaps can lead to the separation of the scaphoid and lunate and ultimately cause a fracture.

Treatment:

• The following things are taken into consideration while treating this condition:
• The patient's age
• The extent of the damage
• Time passed between the injury and when you see a doctor
• Whether the patient is suffering from arthritis and its extent

An orthopedic surgeon will perform the necessary mobility tests to diagnose the condition up close and rule out any other possible damage. It is also essential to identify the precise point where you are feeling the pain. For this, apart from the said mobility tests, the doctor may also recommend X-rays and MRI scans. This will help rule out the possibility of fractures, tissue damage and cartilage damage.

Modes of treatment:
 

Non invasive methods such as a splint or a cast are generally used if the damage is not too much. To provide temporary respite to the patient, the doctor will likely recommend anti-inflammatory medicine and painkillers. In severe cases because of the extent of the damage, an arthroscopic surgery, using small incisions may be recommended. By removing the damaged ligament, the surgeon will create scope for a new healthy ligament to grow back in its place. In either case it is recommend to see a wrist doctor who can fully diagnose and prescribe the correct treatment.