Unusual combined scaphoid and lunate fracture of the wrist: a case report

Unusual case report of concomitant lunate and scaphoid fractures without associated dislocation in a 16-year-old male

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE

Lunate fractures without associated dislocations are rare injuries, combination scaphoid-lunate fractures without an associated dislocation are even more rare of which few are reported in the literature.

CASE PRESENTATION

This case report describes a 16-year-old otherwise healthy male with ipsilateral scaphoid and lunate fractures after punching a goalpost with his left hand, for which he had surgical management. This patient had a successful treatment with two headless compression screws through a single extended carpal tunnel approach. Surgery was performed within two weeks of injury after initially immobilized with a thumb spica splint. The postoperative period was complicated by noncompliance with weight-bearing status and missed three-month followup. However, by six months, subsequent visits demonstrated radiographic and clinical healing as well as full wrist range of motion without any other sequelae.

CLINICAL DISCUSSION

This case offers more evidence regarding this rare injury. Lunate fractures and scaphoid fractures can both be treated with open reduction and internal fixation using headless compression screws, however little evidence exists when it comes to treating them in combination.

CONCLUSION

The use of headless compression screws through a single extended carpal tunnel approach led to clinical and radiographic healing in a 16 year-old-male with combined scaphoid and lunate fractures at 6 month follow up.

Outcomes of arthroscopic versus open reduction and internal fixation for the treatment of acute traumatic lunate fractures: a systematic review

The purpose of the study was to compare outcomes of fully-arthroscopic reduction and internal fixation (ARIF) versus open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) to treat acute traumatic lunate fractures. A literature search was conducted using Medline and Embase. Demographic data and outcomes were extracted for included studies. The search identified 2,146 references: 17 articles were included, reporting on 20 cases (4 ARIF and 16 ORIF). No differences between ARIF and ORIF were found in rate of union (100% vs 93%, P = 1.000), grip strength (mean difference, 8%; 95%CI, -16-31; P = 0.592), rate of return to work (100% vs 100%, P = 1.000), or range of motion (mean difference, 28°; 95%CI, -25-80; P = 0.426). Lunate fractures were not identified in 6 of the 19 radiographs, but were identified in all CT scans. There were no differences in outcome between ARIF and ORIF for the treatment of fresh lunate fracture. The authors recommend surgeons to perform CT scans when diagnosing high-energy wrist trauma so as not to overlook lunate fractures. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.

Three Cases of Translunate Perilunate Injury Treated with Wrist Arthroscopy

Background  An acute fracture of the lunate is an uncommon injury with the reported incidence ranging from 0.5 to 1% of all carpal bone fractures. The combination of lunate fracture and perilunate injury is even rarer and Bain et al first introduced the "translunate arc concept" in 2008. We reported three cases of translunate perilunate injury treated with wrist arthroscopy. Materials and Methods  All the three cases had been treated successfully with the use of wrist arthroscopy. A novel technique of arthroscopic reduction and fixation of a volar pole of lunate fracture was illustrated. The lunate fracture healed in all cases with normal carpal alignment. Results  All patients achieved a painless and functional joint with good range of motion at an average follow-up of 15 months. There was no radiological evidence of avascular necrosis of the lunate in all three cases. Conclusion  Translunate perilunate injury is rare and a high index of suspicion is necessary for diagnosis. There was no consensus on the surgical approach to this kind of injury. Wrist arthroscopy had proven to be successful in treating the greater and lesser arc perilunate injury. For translunate perilunate injury, wrist arthroscopy is also a feasible option with the advantages of lower risk of arthrofibrosis and avascular necrosis.

Non-dislocation lunate fracture combined with distal radius fracture: A case report

RATIONALE

Lunate fractures are very rare, accounting for only 0.5% to 6.5% of all carpal fractures. They are mostly caused by high-energy trauma and commonly occur with fractures and dislocations of other carpal bones. It is rarely combined with Colles' fracture and the underlying pathogenesis and prognostic significance still remain controversial.

PATIENT CONCERNS

Here we report a case of a fresh lunate fracture combined with Colles' fracture, without dislocations of other carpal bones caused by a low-energy fall injury.

DIAGNOSES

Lunate fracture, Colles' fracture.

INTERVENTIONS

This patient received closed reduction and internal fixation (CRIF) with K-wire.

OUTCOMES

The patient took follow up 1 year and the patient showed good function of the wrist joint LESSONS:: Lunate fractures have no high misdiagnosis rate. Patients suffering persistent wrist swelling after a trauma should be carefully examined and followed up to prevent severe secondary diseases and wrist joint dysfunction.

Lunate fractures and associated radiocarpal and midcarpal instabilities: a systematic review

The aim of this study was to analyse lunate fractures and any associated osseo-ligamentous injuries. A systematic review identified 34 cases. We identified carpal instabilities at the radiocarpal and midcarpal joints in volar and dorsal directions. Radiocarpal instabilities (10/34) were usually dorsoradial (8/10), with a transverse lunate fracture, best seen on a coronal image. Midcarpal instabilities (24/34) were usually volar (14/18), with a volar lunate shear fracture, best seen on a sagittal image. Instabilities were sub-classified into non-displaced, subluxated and dislocated. Associated fractures of the scaphoid and the radial and ulnar styloid processes were common. Lunate fractures without subluxation or dislocation had good outcomes with cast immobilization or fixation of associated fractures. Lunate fracture-subluxations are unstable injuries that are best managed with fixation of the carpal fractures. Lunate fracture-dislocations are complex injuries, requiring stabilization of the lunate, associated fractures and ligament injuries; complications are common and acute or delayed salvage procedures may be required.

Transstyloid perilunate fracture-dislocations of the carpus, a review of two cases

Transstyloid perilunate fracture-dislocations of the carpus resulting from a force in an ulnar-to-radial direction are rare injuries. We present two cases of transstyloid perilunate fracture-dislocations of the carpus, one of which dislocated palmarly and was accompanied with fractures of the triquetrum and the ulnar styloid. The treatment algorisms are described and a satisfactory reduction is the goal for optimal functional recovery.

Two cases of proximal pole scaphoid fracture accompanied by lunate fracture

We experienced two cases of simultaneous fracture of the scaphoid and the lunate. In two cases, both scaphoid and lunate fractures existed on the same plane, which may help us to understand the mechanism of proximal fracture of the scaphoid.

Perilunate Injuries, Not Dislocated (PLIND)

Purpose We reviewed a series of equivalents of perilunate dislocations and fracture-dislocations (PLDs-PLFDs) in which there was no dislocation of the capitate from the lunate on the initial radiographs. We propose to include these injuries as a variant of perilunate dislocations that we have termed a perilunate injury, not dislocated (PLIND) lesion in a modified classification of perilunate injuries. Methods A review of the records of all acute perilunate injuries and displaced carpal fractures was done in a single-center university hospital wrist surgery unit over a 5-year period. All cases presenting at the acute stage with displaced fractures of scaphoid, lunate, triquetrum, or capitate along with scapholunate and/or lunotriquetral dissociation but no dislocation of the capitate from the lunate in the sagittal or coronal plane were reviewed and considered as PLIND lesions. Results We identified 11 patients with PLIND lesions. Three cases with clinical and radiological follow-up are presented. Discussion Equivalents of PLDs-PLFDs presenting without dislocation of the capitate from the lunate do exist. These injuries may be overlooked despite their severity. They require both osseous and ligamentous repair. Including them into an existing perilunate injuries classification highlights their recognition and enables a better understanding and treatment of both acute and chronic nondislocated perilunate injuries. Level of Evidence Level IV, retrospective case series.

Lunate fractures in the face of a perilunate injury: an uncommon and easily missed injury pattern

Lunate fractures are rare and are usually associated with high-energy trauma. Typically, they are described in isolation or with associated carpal injuries such as scaphoid, capitate, or radial styloid fractures. We report a case of a complex lunate fracture in combination with a perilunate dissociation injury.

Complex and rare fracture patterns in perilunate dislocations

INTRODUCTION

The wrist represents a complex anatomic region in the upper extremity and a highly functional and intricate structural joint. Perilunate injuries have classically been described as involving a greater or lesser arc as described by Mayfield and imply a specific pattern of force transmission. The greater and lesser arc classifications do not include descriptions of when non-scaphoid carpal fractures occur as part of a perilunate injury.

METHODS/RESULTS

We present three cases of complex and rare perilunate fracture dislocation patterns and discuss the surgical management as a treatment model for these complex wrist injuries: the trans-scaphoid, trans-capitate perilunate dislocation, the trans-scapholunate ligament, trans-capitate dislocation, and the trans-scaphoid, trans-triquetral perilunate dislocation.

DISCUSSION

Although there is a low incidence of injury to non-scaphoid carpal bones, it is beneficial to understand the approach to the perilunate reduction and scaphoid fixation through a combined volar and dorsal approach, which will also allow for the reduction and fixation of more rare and complex carpal fractures.

Nondisplaced fractures of the proximal carpal row: case report

We present a 24-year-old woman who sustained isolated nondisplaced fractures of the proximal carpal row after a low-energy injury. The radiographic features are most consistent with the recently described translunate arc injury and appear to be a transitional injury between an inferior arc injury as well as the greater and lesser arc injuries. The injury was successfully treated with below-elbow thumb-spica cast immobilization for 10 weeks.

Translunate fracture with associated perilunate injury: 3 case reports with introduction of the translunate arc concept

We report 3 cases of translunate fractures with associated perilunate dislocations (or subluxation). We believe the translunate injury reflects a higher-velocity trauma and produces further destabilization of the carpus when compared with the established greater and lesser arc injuries. A modification to Johnson's perilunate injury classification system is proposed: the addition of a translunate arc injury subgroup, which would include all perilunate injuries with translunate fractures.

Transstyloid, translunate fracture-dislocation of the wrist: case report

Earlier reports have described characteristic fracture-dislocation patterns of the carpus and distal radius. Most result from a fall onto an outstretched arm, with an applied force directed in a radial-to-ulnar direction across the wrist. We present the clinical, radiographic, and arthroscopic findings noted with an unusual pattern of injury resulting from a force applied at the ulnar side of the wrist.