Post-traumatic palmar carpal subluxation. Report of two cases

Abstract

Traumatic carpal instability can be difficult to detect and may present complicated management problems. Post-traumatic palmar carpal subluxation has been previously described only as a theoretical ligament instability. Such a condition implies disruption of the normal ligament attachments either within or around the carpus, or both, which very often results in altered intercarpal relationships and in disturbed kinematics. Post-traumatic palmar carpal subluxation is a form of carpal ligament instability that we could not find in any previous reports. We are reporting the cases of two patients who were followed for three years after such an injury. After closed reduction and non-operative management, both patients had a satisfactory functional result.