Treatment of scapholunate dissociation. Rotatory subluxation of the scaphoid.

The treatment of scapholunate dissociation remains controversial. Although good to excellent results have been reported using a variety of surgical techniques, they have often not been confirmed by other authors. Limited wrist mobility and the likelihood that degenerative changes will progress appear to be inherent in most approaches. The ideal treatment is to restore the normal anatomy and, with it, the function of the wrist. Destroying a normal joint by even a limited fusion as a means to provide stability to an abnormal joint is counter to our usual approach to disease. It is for that reason that more reliable soft-tissue reconstructive procedures are necessary. Those interested in arthroscopy are pursuing endoscopic methods of repair, but, at present, little progress is apparent. The physician who solves this problem with an uncomplicated and reliable surgical solution will have indebted us all.