What is the treatment for SLAC wrist?

What is the treatment for SLAC wrist?

Mild symptomatic SLAC can often be managed nonoperatively with periodic steroid injections, splinting, and NSAIDs. If the grip strength of the SLAC wrist is greater than 80% of that of the uninvolved wrist and the condition is not giving rise to significant impairment, then living with SLAC is a valid option.

What causes a SLAC wrist?

CAUSES. Most cases of SLAC wrist start with a significant wrist sprain or fracture, but occasionally no history of injury is recalled. Some cases of scapholunate ligament injury may be due to repetitive heavy loading of the wrist as seen with obesity, or inflammatory conditions of the wrist that damage the ligament.

What does SLAC wrist mean?

Scapholunate advanced collapse (SLAC) of the wrist is the most common pattern of degenerative arthritis in the wrist. The hallmark of SLAC is scaphoid or scapholunate ligament injury with collapse on the radial side of the wrist. Watson and Ballet coined the term SLAC wrist in 1984.

What is Stage 3 SLAC wrist?

Stage III SLAC wrist entails sclerosis and joint space narrowing between the lunate and capitate. Eventually, the capitate will migrate proximally into the space created by the scapholunate dissociation.

Can SLAC wrist be repaired?

SLAC reconstruction (limited wrist fusion): Surgical treatment in the form of wrist ligament reconstruction may be indicated in cases where the wrist ligament is completely torn.

How common is SLAC wrist?

There are three different patterns of arthropathy seen about the wrist which include SLAC, triscaphe arthritis (between the trapezium, trapezoid and distal scaphoid) and a combination pattern. SLAC wrist is the most common type of wrist arthritis and accounts for approximately 55 % of all wrist arthritis [14].

What are the symptoms of SLAC wrist?

Symptoms of Scapholunate Advanced Collapse (SLAC) Wrist

• Difficulty with weight-bearing across the wrist.
• Significant pain in the area of the scapholunate interval.
• Progressive weakness of the involved hand.
• Wrist stiffness.
• Weak grip strength.
• Tenderness to palpation.
• Reduced range of motion of the wrist.

What is scapholunate widening?

It results from the relative instability between the scaphoid and lunate bones secondary to the injury of scapholunate ligament and generally presents radiographically as a widened medial-lateral gap between the two carpal bones.

What is scapholunate dissociation of right wrist?

Scapholunate dissociation is when the small bones in the wrist (the scaphoid and the lunate) move excessively in relation to one another. Physiotherapy is an important part of scapholunate dissociation rehabilitation.

What is mild scapholunate dissociation?

Scapholunate dissociation is the abnormal orientation or movement of the small bones of your wrist: the scaphoid and lunate, in relation to one another.

How long does scapholunate surgery take?

Healing of the Scapholunate Ligament takes approximately 3 months. This procedure is usually performed under general anesthesia which means you will be asleep for the procedure. Your procedure will take approximately 3 hours- including recovery time. You will also be required to have a driver the day of surgery.

Is scapholunate dissociation a disability?

As noted above, the veteran’s scapholunate dissociation disability is currently rated as 20 percent disabling and is manifested by pain, limitation of motion, and arthritis.

What is the pathophysiology of CPPD at the wrist?

This case shows classic features of a CPPD (calcium pyrophosphate deposition) arthropathy at the wrist with loss of cartilage between the scaphoid and distal radius associated with subchondral sclerosis and large subchondral cysts. In adition the…

What is the treatment for SLAC wrist arthritis?

Treatment for SLAC wrist arthritis depends largely on how advanced the arthritis is. Patient age and activity level are also important considerations. There are many different options, and your surgeon will help to recommend which is best for you. Small camera and instruments in the wrist clean out damaged tissues.

What is the pathophysiology of SLAC wrist?

SLAC wrist develops after attenuation, either traumatically or atraumatically, of the scapholunate ligament. Atraumatic causes of SLAC wrist include calcium pyrophosphate dehydrate deposition disease (CPPD), rheumatoid arthritis, neuropathic diseases, and β 2 -microglobulin associated amyloid deposition diseases [ 4, 5 ].

What is the best treatment for SLAC syndrome?

Nonoperative treatment options Initially, nonsurgical treatment of symptomatic SLAC and SNAC wrist should be optimized. This can include wrist immobilization with splints, antiinflammatory medication, and corticosteroid injections. If symptoms worsen with disease progression, various operative treatment recommendations may be needed.