Wrist Fractures and Dislocations

Wrist injuries are common and encompass a wide variety of pathologies. This review discusses key concepts related to the evaluation and management of wrist injuries, including bony and ligamentous injuries of the carpus, fractures of the distal radius and ulna, and associated conditions. Pertinent anatomy and biomechanical principles are briefly reviewed, followed by more detailed discussions of evaluation and management of specific injury types based on best available evidence. A diagnostic approach including the history, physical examination, and imaging is reviewed for each injury type. Common surgical approaches, fixation methods, and reconstructive techniques are then described within each section. Numerous illustrations, radiographs, and cadaveric photographs are included. This review contains 32 figures, 2 tables and 76 references Key words: carpal, carpus, distal radius, fracture, ligament, lunotriquetral, scaphoid, scapholunate, wrist