Ultrasound-Based Measurement of Dorsal Scaphoid Displacement During Watson Test in Scapholunate Ligament Lesion

Abstract

Abstract Background Scapholunate ligament lesion (SLL) is the most common ligament lesion in the wrist. The diagnosis of scapholunate ligament injuries in clinical practice is not standardised and there are various clinical and radiological methods that have varying degrees of reliability. Aims The aim of our work was to find a method that was simple, easily reproducible and did not require expensive and time- consuming second-tier examinations. We therefore assessed the reliability of sonography during Watson test (WT) in detecting SLL. Methods 20 patients with MRI and intraoperatively confirmed SLL were assessed preoperatively between July 2020 and April 2023. Sonography was performed on the scaphoid dorsal subluxation (DS) in wrist neutral and during WT and compared with the healthy contralateral side. The DS was measured by two independent investigators and intra- and interobserver reliability were assessed. Results We found a statistically significant difference between DS of the scaphoid of the healthy (0.89 mm, SD 0.67 mm) compared to the pathological side (1.67 mm, SD 0.95 mm). Reliability was very good, and SEM was lower than 0.4 mm for all measurements. Conclusion Sonographic measurement during WT showed promising results with very good reliability; this method could be routinely adopted for the detection and diagnosis of SLL without the need for second-tier examinations.