Watch This Space

​I am relatively new to working with our advanced practice practitioners, so I often check x-rays if I have a moment.An x-ray of a wrist has a great chance of being reviewed because this is my favorite joint. I love the challenge of catching things when I don't know the case. I was definitely rewarded by this case.The thing that caught my eye was the space between the scaphoid and the lunate. It was huge, especially when looking at the sclerotic changes in the other bones of this wrist. Most of the joint spaces seem narrowed but not the scapholunate. Whether you go with the British version (Terry Thomas) or the American (David Letterman), that gap is a problem.Over time, the capitate can drive down like a wedge between the lunate and the scaphoid, causing a debilitating scapholunate advanced collapse, also known as a SLAC wrist. Pain, surgery, and loss of function are likely in the future of a patient who does not have this fixed. This is an injury not to be missed.Tip to Remember: Mind the gap in the wrist, particularly between the scaphoid and the lunate.Tags: wrist x-ray, scaphoid, lunate, sclerotic changes, gap, joint space, scapholunate, SLAC wrist, scapholunate advanced collapse, emergency medicinePublished: 4/1/2020 7:21:00 AM
Source: Lions and Tigers and Bears - Category: Emergency Medicine Tags: Blog Posts Source Type: blogs