title: The role of arthroscopy in the treatment of scapholunate instability.
abstract: Diagnosis of scapholunate instability is made using clinical provocative maneuvers such as the Watson test and a two-compartment arthrogram. The history of treatment options for this instability pattern is reviewed. A technique for arthroscopic treatment is described in which anatomic reduction and multiple pin fixation precipitate fibrous ankylosis to stabilize the joint. Best results were seen in patients with less than 3 months' symptom duration and less than 3-mm side-to-side gap difference. This treatment offers less loss of motion and minimal surgical surgical trauma to the wrist than other techniques currently in use.
authors.affiliation: Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA.
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Whipple
mesh_terms: D001182:Arthroscopy; D001858:Bone Nails; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D014955:Wrist Joint / Q000601:surgery*