clinical features

Last reviewed 01/2018

There is generally a history of a fall with the hand forced into dorsiflexion. The hand is held immobile and the wrist is painful and swollen. If there is compression of the carpal tunnel there may be paraesthesia of the territory of the median nerve. There may also be difficulty in finger flexion.

On x-ray a perilunar dislocation reveals a carpus that is diminished in height and an abnormal overlapping of bones in the AP view. Displacement is usually better seen on the lateral view.