Diagnosis of acute carpal instability in radial fractures

The analysis of X-rays of 873 patients with radial fractures was performed. The signs of carpal instability were found in 104 cases. Detailed examination of 32 patients detected clinical symptoms of instability in 17 cases. The most reliable X-ray signs of intercarpal ligament rupture were the following: changes of lunatoscaphoid angle before and after reduction, widening of the lunatotriquentral gap and degree of lunatocapitate angle before the reduction.