The Two Parts of the Dorsal Radiocarpal (Radiolunotriquetral) Ligament

Abstract

An anatomical study was performed to identify the configuration of the dorsal radiocarpal ligament. Fourteen fresh frozen wrists from seven cadavers (mean age 65 years) were dissected under loupe magnification. The study demonstrates that the dorsal radiocarpal ligament had, in every case examined, an additional superficial component which has not been previously described. It arises from the distal part of the interosseous border of the radius. It runs obliquely, distally and ulnarward, over the distal ulna to attach to the lunate and triquetrum. The dorsal radiocarpal ligament blends with the underlying dorsal radioulnar ligament which runs transversely, at a deeper plane, between the radius and ulna. The paper discusses the clinical implications of this finding.