Ulnocapitate ligament
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View Joachim Feger's current disclosuresThe ulnocapitate ligament is the most superficial of the three extrinsic palmar ulnocarpal ligaments and a volar stabiliser of the ulnocarpal complex 1-3.
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Gross anatomy
The ulnocapitate ligament is the only ulnocarpal ligament directly attaching to the ulnar head. It runs superficial to the ulnolunate and ulnotriquetral ligament reinforcing the palmar component of the lunotriquetral interosseous ligament. It connects the ulnar fovea to the capitate and interdigitates distally with fibres of the radioscaphocapitate ligament and fibres of the scaphotriquetral ligament, forming the palmar greater arc or arcuate ligament 1-3.
Attachments
The ulnocapitate ligament originates directly at the fovea of the ulnar head near the attachments of the volar and dorsal radioulnar ligaments 1-3.
Distally ulnocapitate ligament inserts onto the body of the capitate 1-5.
Radiographic features
Ultrasound
The ulnocapitate ligament can be visualised on ultrasound with the transducer placed at the volar ulnar aspect of the wrist in the longitudinal plane slightly rotated radially towards the capitate bone. The long axis of the ligament is displayed as an echogenic, fibrillary structure coursing over the lunotriquetral joint and connecting the distal ulna to the capitate 2,3.
MRI
The ulnocapitate ligament is difficult to appreciate on MRI even with proper anatomic knowledge ref.
Related pathology
The ligament is most likely injured or involved in the following pathologic conditions 6:
- traumatic triangular fibrocartilage complex injury (Palmer 1c/1d)
- ulnar-sided perilunate instability
See also
References
- 1. Berger R. The Anatomy of the Ligaments of the Wrist and Distal Radioulnar Joints. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2001;383(383):32-40. doi:10.1097/00003086-200102000-00006 - Pubmed
- 2. Gitto S & Draghi F. Normal Sonographic Anatomy of the Wrist With Emphasis on Assessment of Tendons, Nerves, and Ligaments. J Ultrasound Med. 2016;35(5):1081-94. doi:10.7863/ultra.15.06105 - Pubmed
- 3. Taljanovic M, Goldberg M, Sheppard J, Rogers L. US of the Intrinsic and Extrinsic Wrist Ligaments and Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex—Normal Anatomy and Imaging Technique. Radiographics. 2011;31(1):79-80. doi:10.1148/rg.e44 - Pubmed
- 4. Bateni C, Bartolotta R, Richardson M, Mulcahy H, Allan C. Imaging Key Wrist Ligaments: What the Surgeon Needs the Radiologist to Know. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2013;200(5):1089-95. doi:10.2214/ajr.12.9738 - Pubmed
- 5. Rominger M, Bernreuter W, Kenney P, Lee D. MR Imaging of Anatomy and Tears of Wrist Ligaments. Radiographics. 1993;13(6):1233-46. doi:10.1148/radiographics.13.6.8290721 - Pubmed
- 6. Murray P, Palmer C, Shin A. The Mechanism of Ulnar-Sided Perilunate Instability of the Wrist: A Cadaveric Study and 6 Clinical Cases. J Hand Surg Am. 2012;37(4):721-8. doi:10.1016/j.jhsa.2012.01.015 - Pubmed
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