Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Anatomy and Biomechanics of Scapholunate Ligament

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Arthroscopy and Endoscopy of the Elbow, Wrist and Hand

  • 218 Accesses

Abstract

The scapholunate interosseous ligament is an important structure for normal carpal kinematics. It is the primary stabilizer of the scapholunate joint, with the radioscaphocapitate, scaphotrapezial, dorsal intercarpal, and dorsal radiocarpal ligaments acting as secondary stabilizers. The scapholunate interosseous ligament is composed of three subregions: dorsal, palmar, and proximal. Biomechanical studies have observed that the dorsal subregion is the strongest and is critical for scapholunate stability. However, other biomechanical studies have challenged this notion and suggest that repair or reconstruction of the isolated dorsal subregion may be insufficient for restoring scapholunate kinematics.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 119.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Kitay A, Wolfe SW. Scapholunate instability: current concepts in diagnosis and management. J Hand Surg Am. 2012;37(10):2175–96.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Berger RA. The gross and histologic anatomy of the scapholunate interosseous ligament. J Hand Surg Am. 1996;21(2):170–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Berger RA. The anatomy of the ligaments of the wrist and distal radioulnar joints. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2001;383:32–40.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Berger RA, Landsmeer JMF. The palmar radiocarpal ligaments: a study of adult and fetal human wrist joints. J Hand Surg Am. 1990;15(6):847–54.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Viegas SF. The lunatohamate articulation of the midcarpal joint. Arthroscopy. 1990;6(1):5–10.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Rhee PC, Moran SL, Shin AY. Association between lunate morphology and carpal collapse in cases of scapholunate dissociation. J Hand Surg Am. 2009;34(9):1633–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Haase SC, Berger RA, Shin AY. Association between lunate morphology and carpal collapse patterns in scaphoid nonunions. J Hand Surg Am. 2007;32(7):1009–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Schimmerl-Metz SM, Metz VM, Totterman SMS, Mann FA, Gilula LA. Radiologic measurement of the scapholunate joint: implications of biologic variation in scapholunate joint morphology. J Hand Surg Am. 1999;24(6):1237–44.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Macconaill MA. The mechanical anatomy of the carpus and its bearings on some surgical problems. J Anat. 1941;75(Pt 2):166–16675.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Wolfe SW, Neu C, Crisco JJ. In vivo scaphoid, lunate, and capitate kinematics in flexion and in extension. J Hand Surg Am. 2000;25(5):860–9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Logan SE, Nowak MD, Gould PL, Weeks PM. Biomechanical behavior of the scapholunate ligament. Biomed Sci Instrum. 1986;22(17):81–5.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Nowak MD, Logan SE. Strain rate dependent permanent deformation of human wrist ligaments. Biomed Sci Instrum. 1988;24(1):61–5.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Berger RA, Imeada T, Berglund L, An KN. Constraint and material properties of the subregions of the scapholunate interosseous ligament. J Hand Surg Am. 1999;24(5):953–62.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Patterson RM, Yazaki N, Andersen CR, Viegas SF. Prediction of ligament length and carpal diastasis during wrist flexion-extension and after simulated scapholunate instability. J Hand Surg Am. 2013;38(3):509–18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Padmore C, Stoesser H, Langohr GD, Johnson J, Suh N. Carpal kinematics following sequential scapholunate ligament sectioning. J Wrist Surg. 2019;08(02):124–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Nikolopoulos FV, Apergis EP, Poulilios AD, Papagelopoulos PJ, Zoubos AV, Kefalas VA. Biomechanical properties of the scapholunate ligament and the importance of its portions in the capitate intrusion injury. Clin Biomech. 2011;26(8):819–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Watson HK, Brenner LH. Degenerative disorders of the wrist. J Hand Surg Am. 1985;10(6 Pt 2):1002–6.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Johnson JE, Lee P, McIff TE, Toby EB, Fischer KJ. Scapholunate ligament injury adversely alters in vivo wrist joint mechanics: an MRI-based modeling study. J Orthop Res. 2013;31(9):1455–60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Pin PG, Nowak M, Logan SE, Leroy Young V, Gilula LA, Weeks PM. Coincident rupture of the scapholunate and lunotriquetral ligaments without perilunate dislocation: pathomechanics and management. J Hand Surg Am. 1990;15(1):110–9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Boabighi A, Kuhlmann JN, Kenesi C. The distal ligamentous complex of the scaphoid and the scapho-lunate ligament. An anatomic, histological and biomechanical study. J Hand Surg Am. 1993;18(1):65–9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Svoboda SJ, Eglseder WA, Belkoff SM. Autografts from the foot for reconstruction of the scapholunate interosseous ligament. J Hand Surg Am. 1995;20(6):980–5.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Davis CA, Culp RW, Hume EL, Osterman AL. Reconstruction of the scapholunate ligament in a cadaver model using a bone-ligament-bone autograft from the foot. J Hand Surg Am. 1998;23(5):884–92.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Harvey EJ, Hanel D, Knight JB, Tencer AF. Autograft replacements for the scapholunate ligament: a biomechanical comparison of hand-based autografts. J Hand Surg Am. 1999;24(5):963–7.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Johnston JD, Small CF, Bouxsein ML, Pichora DR. Mechanical properties of the scapholunate ligament correlate with bone mineral density measurements of the hand. J Orthop Res. 2004;22(4):867–71.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Zdero R, Olsen M, Elfatori S, Skrinskas T, Nourhosseini H, Whyne C, et al. Linear and torsional mechanical characteristics of intact and reconstructed scapholunate ligaments. J Biomech Eng. 2009;131(4):1–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Ehsan A, Lee DG, Bakker AJ, Huang JI. Scapholunate ligament reconstruction using an acellular dermal matrix: a mechanical study. J Hand Surg Am. 2012;37(8):1538–42.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Shin SS, Moore DC, McGovern RD, Weiss APC. Scapholunate ligament reconstruction using a bone-retinaculum-bone autograft: a biomechanic and histologic study. J Hand Surg Am. 1998;23(2):216–21.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Hofstede DJ, Ritt MJPF, Bos KE. Tarsal autografts for reconstruction of the scapholunate interosseous ligament: a biomechanical study. J Hand Surg Am. 1999;24(5):968–76.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Cuénod P, Charrière E, Papaloïzos MY. A mechanical comparison of bone-ligament-bone autografts from the wrist for replacement of the scapholunate ligament. J Hand Surg Am. 2002;27(6):985–90.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Western Ontario, Roth | McFarlane Hand and Upper Limb Center, St. Joseph’s Health Care, London, ON, Canada

    Nicholas Chang & Nina Suh

Authors
  1. Nicholas Chang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Nina Suh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nina Suh .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital and Research Center, Mumbai, India

    Deepak N. Bhatia

  2. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia

    Gregory I. Bain

  3. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA

    Gary G. Poehling

  4. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA

    Benjamin R. Graves

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2022 ISAKOS

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Chang, N., Suh, N. (2022). Anatomy and Biomechanics of Scapholunate Ligament. In: Bhatia, D.N., Bain, G.I., Poehling, G.G., Graves, B.R. (eds) Arthroscopy and Endoscopy of the Elbow, Wrist and Hand. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-79423-1_72

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-79423-1_72

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-79422-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-79423-1

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation