The ligaments of the human wrist and their functional significance

TLDR

The study proposes more specific terminology for the wrist ligaments. The authors dissected 28 wrists, examined 19 mechanically induced injuries, and described how the intracapsular ligaments contribute to carpal mechanics and injury patterns in perilunate and lunate dislocations. The study identified six volar intracapsular ligaments—two stabilizing the distal carpal row, three the proximal carpal row, and one the proximal scaphoid pole—and found that mechanically induced wrist injuries ruptured specific ligaments, underscoring the need for precise terminology.

Abstract

The ligamentous anatomy of the wrist was analyzed by studying (1) 28 dissected human wrists, (2) and by examination of 19 wrist injuries created mechanically. Six volar intracapsular ligaments are described, two stabilizing the distal carpal row, three stabilizing the proximal carpal row and one stabilizing the proximal scaphoid pole. More specific terminology for these ligaments is proposed. An explanation of how these ligaments participate in the mechanical functioning of the carpus is advanced. Mechanically created wrist injuries had ruptures of specific ligaments as described augmenting a need for a more specific terminology. Suspected mechanisms of injury in perilunate and lunate dislocations are mentioned based upon the functional understanding of the intracapsular ligaments.