Scapholunate ligament injury occurring with scaphoid fracture - a rare coincidence?

In a retrospective study the results of a series 34 wrist arthroscopies in 189 acute scaphoid fractures were analysed. Scapholunate ligament tears were found in 13 cases. In 10 cases there was complete disruption of scapholunate interosseous ligament causing dynamic instability. Partial ligament tears without instability were seen in three cases. Despite the limitations of this series we conclude that occurrence of scapholunate ligament injury with a scaphoid fracture may be more common than generally thought.