[Pathomorphology of the wrist joint in malunion of the distal radius after osseous fracture healing].

Morphological changes subsequent to malunion of distal radius fractures involve altered bone density along articular surfaces and wrist ligaments. The inclination of articular surfaces of the scaphoid and lunate in frontal and sagittal planes frequently leads to a dorsal dislocation of the distal fracture fragment. X-ray densitometry of subchondral mineralization shows zones of higher density along the palmar articular border, resulting from excentric load transmission. Typical morphological changes involving wrist ligaments are demonstrated and analyzed.