Diagnostics (Oct 2021)

Sonoanatomy and Stepwise/Systematic Ultrasound Examination of the Extrinsic/Intrinsic Wrist Ligaments

  • Jia-Chi Wang,
  • Wei-Ting Wu,
  • Ke-Vin Chang,
  • Lan-Rong Chen,
  • Yuko Nakashima,
  • Levent Özçakar

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11101834
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 10
p. 1834

Abstract

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Ultrasound has emerged as the most useful imaging tool for investigating wrist and hand disorders, with several published ultrasound protocols having demonstrated their practicality in scanning the wrist tendons and nerves. However, ligaments of the wrist are networked in a complex manner, deterring sonographers from examining them with an organized strategy. Furthermore, because of the non-parallel alignment between the radiocarpal, mid-carpal, and carpal–metacarpal joints, precise recognition of the carpal bones is challenging, although ultrasound is paramount for visualizing the wrist ligaments. In this regard, the current article for point of view aims to elaborate sonoanatomy of the carpal bones and to present a stepwise systematic approach for navigating the extrinsic and intrinsic wrist ligaments.

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