Lunotriquetral coalitions are the most common form of carpal coalition wherein the cartilage between the lunate and triquetrum ossification centers failed to undergo apoptosis. This technical case report examines the arthrokinematics of bilateral lunotriquetral coalitions with dissimilar Minnaar types in one participant with one asymptomatic wrist and one wrist with suspected distal radioulnar joint injury. Static and dynamic (four-dimensional) CT images during pronosupination were captured using a photon-counting detector CT scanner. Interosseous proximity distributions were calculated between the lunotriquetral coalition and adjacent bones in both wrists to quantify arthrokinematics. Interosseous proximity distributions at joints adjacent to the lunotriquetral coalition demonstrate differences in median and minimum interosseous proximities between the asymptomatic and injured wrists during resisted pronosupination. Altered kinematics from lunotriquetral coalitions may be a source of ulnar-sided wrist pain and discomfort, limiting the functional range of motion. This case report highlights potential alterations to wrist arthrokinematics in the setting of lunotriquetral coalitions and possible associations with ulnar-sided wrist pain, highlighting anatomy to examine in radiographic follow-up. Furthermore, this case report demonstrates the technical feasibility of four-dimensional CT using photon-counting detector technology in assessing arthrokinematics in the setting of variant wrist anatomy.
Keywords: Carpal coalition; Distal radioulnar joint; Four-dimensional computed tomography; Lunotriquetral joint; Photon-counting detector computed tomography; Wrist biomechanics.
© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to International Skeletal Society (ISS).