Arthroscopic ligamentoplasty of the dorsal and volar portions of the scapholunate ligament

Abstract

Classical arthroscopic techniques for scapholunate instability consist of debridement, thermal shrinkage, and percutaneous pinning. Good results are obtained in acute lesions or in chronic partial tears, but they are less predictable when the lesion is complete, because of the poor healing capacity of the scapholunate ligament and because it is not possible to perform an anatomic ligamentous reconstruction with these techniques. Open techniques are thus required for reconstruction, but they damage the soft tissues. We recently published a description and cadaver study of an arthroscopic ligamentoplasty, trying to combine the advantages of arthroscopic techniques (minimally invasive surgery) and open techniques (reconstruction of the ligament). With this approach, it is possible to reconstruct the dorsal scapholunate ligament and the secondary stabilizers while causing minimal damage to the soft tissues and avoiding injury to the posterior interosseous nerve and detachment of the dorsal intercarpal ligament. The current report describes an additional step to this technique with which it is possible to reconstruct the volar portion of the scapholunate ligament. We also describe an early mobilization postoperative protocol that we believe is equally important.

Keywords: Scapholunate instability; arthroscopic ligamentoplasty; scapholunate ligament; wrist arthroscopy.