Arthroscopic scapholunate ligament repair and dorsal capsulodesis with suture anchor in acute and subacute scapholunate dissociation

Abstract Purpose The objective of this study was to investigate the potential of arthroscopic scapholunate ligament repair and dorsal capsulodesis with suture anchor as a treatment option for patients experiencing symptomatic acute and subacute (< 3 months) scapholunate instability. Methods From Jan. 2017 to Jan 2020, 19 wrists with acute or subacute tears of the SL ligament with symptomatic instability were treated with arthroscopic SL repair and dorsal capsulodesis with a suture anchor. The average time from injury to operation was 8.8 weeks (range, 4–11 weeks) and the regular follow-up mean duration at our clinic was 26.5 months (range, 24–32 months). The pain score according to the visual analog scale, wrist range of motion, grip strength, radiographic outcomes and functional outcomes according to the Modified Mayo Wrist Score (MMWS) were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively during the follow-up period. Results All 19 patients had rupture and dissociation of the SL ligament in the radiocarpal joint. The total arc of wrist motion in the flexion–extension plane loss averaged 5.1° ( P > .01).The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare the results: grip force improved significantly with 14.7% improvement of that on the normal side ( P < .01); the postoperative MMWS was significantly better than the preoperative scores ( P < .01). Of 19 patients of the series, 18 patients (94.7%) achieved good or excellent results according to the MMWS and 16 patients (84.2%) resumed their previous activities. Only one patient (5.3%) had residual laxity of the scapholunate ligament joint at 15 months of follow-up. Conclusions At a minimum of two years of follow-up, patients with acute or subacute symptomatic dissociation of scapholunate ligament instability who underwent arthroscopic scapholunate ligament repair and dorsal capsulodesis with suture anchor treatment had satisfactory results. Level of Evidence Level IV, case series.