Preventing and Treating Scapholunate Ligament Injury: Expert Orthopedic Advice

You might not think much about your wrist until it’s injured; unfortunately, there are many reasons it might hurt. Fractures, carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, and ligament injuries are just a few potential problems.

Your scapholunate ligament connects the scaphoid bones to your lunate bones and helps stabilize your wrist. When this ligament is injured, often due to a fall or sudden impact, you might experience pain, swelling, and reduced wrist mobility. 

When ligaments, including your scapholunate ligament, are overstretched, it’s better known as a sprain.

With the right approach, you can prevent and treat this common issue. Here’s expert orthopedic advice from our board-certified hand and wrist surgeons here at Sequoia Institute for Surgical Services on protecting your wrist and recovering if you get injured.

Preventing scapholunate ligament injuries

Most scapholunate ligament injuries are the result of a sudden impact, and while you can’t always avoid a fall, you can implement the following strategies to help prevent ligament injuries:

Strengthen the muscles around your wrist

To prevent injury, focus on strengthening the muscles around your wrist. Wrist curls, reverse wrist curls, and grip strengthening are great additions to your daily routine.  These exercises help support the ligaments and reduce the risk of injury.

Wear protective gear

If you’re involved in activities that stress your wrists, such as contact sports or manual labor, wear protective gear like wrist guards or braces. These can help absorb impact and protect your ligaments from excessive strain.

Tip: Teach your child the importance of wrist guards early, especially when rollerblading or skateboarding. 

Learn how to fall

Learning how to fall safely can reduce the likelihood of a scapholunate ligament injury. If you sense a fall, try to tuck your arms in and roll to absorb the impact with your body rather than extending your hands to break the fall. 

Learning to fall is good for athletes of any age.

If you’re concerned about falling (from a senior point of view), consider finding a local fall prevention class.

Stretch your wrists daily

Add a few wrist stretches into your daily routine to maintain flexibility and prevent stiffness. Stretching can help keep your ligaments supple and less prone to injury.

What to do if your wrist hurts

Accidents happen, and you may injure your wrist despite your best efforts. If that’s the case, reach out to our team right away. Waiting too long can increase your chance of developing post-traumatic arthritis. Not to mention, the sooner you receive orthopedic care, the sooner you can find relief from your symptoms.

If you suspect a scapholunate ligament injury, rest your wrist immediately while you wait for your appointment. Use a splint or brace to immobilize the wrist and prevent further strain on your injured ligament.

You might also benefit from a cold compress and pain relief medication. If you use an ice pack, keep a thin towel between your skin to prevent skin damage.

Treating scaphoid lunate ligament injuries 

Our Sequoia Institute for Surgical Services team examines your wrist, reviews diagnostic imaging (such as X-rays), and confirms your type of injury. 

If you do have a scapholunate ligament injury, you may benefit from:

Physical therapy 

Once the initial pain and swelling subside, physical therapy can help restore your wrist's strength and mobility. Complete all exercises and stretches as recommended. 

Surgery

In severe cases where the ligament is torn or damaged, surgery may be necessary to repair the ligament and restore wrist stability. Your orthopedic specialist here at Sequoia Institute for Surgical Services will review your surgical options with you.

Let us know if you have wrist pain

Maybe you’ve got a nagging pain in your wrist, or perhaps you’ve had a sharp pain after a fall. No matter how you received your wrist injury, our highly specialized team knows the ins and outs of wrist pain.

Give us a call or click here to request an appointment to learn how orthopedic care can help you recover from a scapholunate ligament injury.