Traumatic carpal instability can be difficult to detect and may present
complicated management problems. Post-traumatic palmar carpal subluxation
has been previously described only as a theoretical ligament instability.
Such a condition implies disruption of the normal ligament attachments
either within or around the carpus, or both, which very often results in
altered intercarpal relationships and in disturbed kinematics.
Post-traumatic palmar carpal subluxation is a form of carpal ligament
instability that we could not find in any previous reports. We are
reporting the cases of two patients who were followed for three years after
such an injury. After closed reduction and non-operative management, both
patients had a satisfactory functional result.