Sonography of the scapholunate ligament in four cadaveric wrists: correlation with MR arthrography and anatomy.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of our study was to sonographically characterize the dorsal aspect of the scapholunate ligament in cadaveric wrists using arthrography, MR arthrography, and anatomic correlation as the gold standard.


METHODS
The dorsal aspect of the scapholunate ligament in four cadaveric wrists was evaluated on sonography without knowledge of the findings from standard arthrography, MR arthrography, and anatomic sectioning. The sonographic findings were compared with the findings from other modalities. The criteria for an abnormal scapholunate ligament included an abnormal contrast communication between the radiocarpal and midcarpal joints on arthrography and a discontinuity of the dorsal aspect of the scapholunate ligament that was documented both on MR arthrography and at anatomic sectioning.


RESULTS
Arthrography, MR arthrography, and anatomic sectioning showed the dorsal aspect of the scapholunate ligament to be normal in one specimen and abnormal in three specimens. On sonography, the normal scapholunate ligament was hyperechoic between the scaphoid and lunate bones. In the three cases of abnormality, a normal scapholunate ligament was not visualized, and an abnormal hypoechogenicity was present.


CONCLUSIONS
The dorsal aspect of the scapholunate ligament can be depicted on sonography; abnormality is present in patients in whom the normally hyperechoic fibrillar ligament is hypoechoic or absent.
Department of Radiology, University of Michigan Medical Center, 1500 E. Medical Center Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0326, USA.
Jon A
JA
Jacobson
Eugene
E
Oh
Tim
T
Propeck
Peter J L
PJ
Jebson
David A
DA
Jamadar
Curtis W
CW
Hayes
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006801:Humans; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014955:Wrist Joint / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology