What is scapholunate advanced collapse?

Scapholunate advanced collapse (SLAC) is a characteristic degenerative clinical wrist condition of progressive deformity, instability, and arthritis that affects the radiocarpal and mid-carpal joints of the wrist.

What is advanced collapse wrist?

Scapholunate advanced collapse (SLAC), commonly known as SLAC wrist, refers to a pattern of wrist malalignment that has been attributed to post-traumatic or spontaneous osteoarthritis of the wrist. It is a complication that can occur with undiagnosed or untreated scapholunate dissociation.

How common is SLAC wrist?

There are three different patterns of arthropathy seen about the wrist which include SLAC, triscaphe arthritis (between the trapezium, trapezoid and distal scaphoid) and a combination pattern. SLAC wrist is the most common type of wrist arthritis and accounts for approximately 55 % of all wrist arthritis [14].

What is scaphoid collapse?

Scaphoid non-union advanced collapse (SNAC) is a complication that can occur with scaphoid fractures, specifically non-union of scaphoid fractures. It is essentially the same sequela of wrist injury causing scapholunate dissociation as seen in scapholunate advanced collapse (SLAC).

How long does it take for a scapholunate ligament tear to heal?

These injuries are usually considered as ligament sprains where one or 2 parts of this 3 part ligament is injured, but there is no instability in the wrist. They respond well to a period of immobilization in plaster (4-6 weeks) followed by analgesia and hand therapy. Recovery can take up to 18 months.

What causes a scapholunate ligament tear?

The scapholunate ligament usually tears when there is a lot of stress put on the wrist. A common cause is a fall onto the hand. Typically, the ligament is injured when the wrist is bent backward or into an unusual position. Sometimes, the ligament stretches out over time.

What is Kienbock’s disease of adults?

Kienböck’s disease is a condition where the blood supply to one of the small bones in the wrist, the lunate, is interrupted. Bone is living tissue that requires a regular supply of blood for nourishment. If the blood supply to a bone stops, the bone can die.

What does SLAC wrist mean?

Scapholunate advanced collapse (SLAC) of the wrist is the most common pattern of degenerative arthritis in the wrist. The hallmark of SLAC is scaphoid or scapholunate ligament injury with collapse on the radial side of the wrist. Watson and Ballet coined the term SLAC wrist in 1984.

How do you treat a scapholunate ligament tear?

Treatment for a Scapholunate ligament tear This may involve a wrist brace or a cast for 2-6 weeks, minimizing activity that causes pain such a tight gripping or pushing, and anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen.

How do you fix a scapholunate ligament?

If this non-operative treatment does not work, surgery may be considered to repair or reconstruct the ligament to help align the wrist bones. This can be done with arthroscopy or an open surgery. Repair or reconstruction of the ligament can lead to wrist stiffness, but the wrist will be more stable.

What do you need to know about Scapholunate advanced collapse?

Scapholunate advanced collapse (SLAC) refers to a pattern of wrist malalignment that has been attributed to post-traumatic or spontaneous osteoarthritis of the wrist. It is a complication that can occur with undiagnosed or untreated scapholunate dissociation . It is essentially the same sequela…

What causes scapholunate advanced collapse ( SLAC ) wrist?

Scapholunate advanced collapse (SLAC) is the most common type of degenerative arthritis in the wrist [1]. Traumatic scapholunate ligament injury is the leading cause of SLAC wrist [2]. Other causes include Kienböck disease, chondrocalcinosis [3], and other carpal fractures. The scapholunate interosseous ligament bonds the scaphoid and the lunate.

What kind of arthritis is scaphoid lunate advanced collapse?

Scaphoid Lunate Advanced Collapse (SLAC) describes the specific pattern of degenerative arthritis seen in chronic dissociation between the scaphoid and lunate. Diagnosis is made clinically with progressive wrist pain and wrist instability with radiographs showing advanced arthritis of the radiocarpal and midcarpal joints (radiolunate joint spared).

What is non-union advanced collapse in scaphoid fractures?

Scaphoid non-union advanced collapse (SNAC) is a complication that can occur with scaphoid fractures, specifically non-union of scaphoid fractures. It is essentially the same sequela of wrist injury causing scapholunate dissociation as seen in scapholunate advanced collapse (SLAC).