Triquetral fracture

Case contributed by Bálint Botz
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Fall onto outstretched right arm while ice skating. Upon presentation a tenderness over the dorsal aspect of the wrist was found without swelling.

Patient Data

Age: 35 years
Gender: Male
x-ray

A small bone fragment is visible on the lateral view dorsal to the carpal bones, raising the possibility of triquetral fracture, however no cortical irragularity can be observed.

ct

CT demonstrated a minimally displaced avulsion injury of the dorsal cortex of the triquetrum. Incidentally a bone island can be observed in the capitate.

Case Discussion

The triquetrum is the second most commonly injured carpal bone after the scaphoid, and physical symptoms are also similar. Since x-ray imaging abnormalities are mostly subtle, careful scrutiny of the dorsal aspect of the carpal bones is required in case of suspected injury.

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