Classification of Intercarpal Ligament Injuries

Intercarpal ligament injuries are frequent injuries of the wrist in active manual workers and in patients practicing sports. Objective clinical examination is the basis of all diagnostic process in order to identify the clinical suspect. XRays are useful as a first evaluation but many of these injuries are not visible on standard XRays and MRI scan is then used in order to improve diagnosis in wrist pain. Nevertheless arthroscopy remains the gold standard in the detection and classification of intracarpal injuries as it allows the direct visualization and dynamic testing of intrinsic and extrinsic ligaments. Under arthroscopy it is also possible to evaluate cartilage injuries in order to stage the lesions and do the correct surgical choice. Arthroscopy allows also to repair partial lesions and to do an assistance to more complex ligaments reconstructions.