Traumatic disruption of a fibrocartilage lunate-triquetral coalition--a case report and review of the literature.

Whilst osseous coalitions of the lunate and the triquetrum are known to be asymptomatic, fibrocartilage lunate-triquetral coalitions can present an uncommon cause for ulnar-sided wrist pain. To diagnose this condition a high degree of suspicion is needed. We present a case with painful post-traumatic disruption of a fibrocartilage lunate-triquetral coalition that was primary misdiagnosed to be a disruption of the interosseous lunotriquetral ligament and was initially treated arthroscopically. Persistent symptoms lead to X-ray examination of the opposite wrist, revealing a complete osseous lunate-triquetral coalition. CT and MRI investigations demonstrated the fibrocartilage coalition of the affected wrist. Subsequently, lunotriquetral fusion using a cannulated Herbert screw was performed and settled the symptoms completely.