Page 70 - ASOP ROT Study Guide

11.2 Stability
Dislocations and sprains of the wrist joints are common which is not surprising after looking at the
structure of the joint. Stability of the wrist depends on:
♦ shape, and
♦ ligaments
The shape of the joint between the radius and the first row of carpal bones does not provide a lot of
stability. The stability of the wrist is therefore dependent on the strong ligaments on the anterior
aspect of the wrist (illustrated below). If they are torn or stretched they fail to work properly.
When intact they hold the bony components of the wrist and hand together like a three-link chain. If
they are damaged, the chain collapses. This pattern is called an intercalated segment and its
collapse is referred to as intercalated segment instability. In the normal wrist, the ligaments
prevent the three-link chain collapsing under the pull of the tendons passing on either side of it

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