Two Unusual Cases of Coronal Lunate Fracture

Description: Volar lunate fractures are rare injuries, usually seen as a result of high-energy trauma and often in association of other carpal injuries. We present 2 unusual cases of coronal volar lunate fractures. The first case involved a proximal pole scaphoid fracture in association with a volar lunate fracture. During surgical exposure, the lunate fracture was found to be rotated 180° volarly. This displaced lunate fracture, although appearing small on radiographs, consisted of the entire volar half of the capitate facet of the distal lunate. Both the scaphoid and lunate fractures were anatomically reduced with fixation across the fractures.
The second case was the result of a high-energy injury and included a transscaphoid, transtriquetral, translunate facture dislocation with a comminuted radial styloid fracture and a small ulnar styloid fracture. Operative reduction and internal fixation was performed of the scaphoid and lunate. The triquetral and comminuted radial styloid fractures were stabilized with K-wires. In both cases, following splinting and rehabilitation, an excellent functional outcome was obtained.
Early recognition and operative treatment of these unusual lunate fractures in association with treatment of the concomitant injuries using an extended volar approach with open reduction internal fixation can lead to an excellent anatomic and functional outcome in these types of cases.
Two Unusual Cases of Coronal Lunate Fracture By Eric P. Hofmeister, MD; Safi Faruqui, DO ORTHOPEDICS 2009; 32:290