The carpal boss: an overview of radiographic evaluation.

The carpal boss, an unmovable bony protuberance, is located on the dorsum of the wrist at the base of the second and third metacarpals adjacent to the capitate and trapezoid bones. This bony prominence may represent degenerative osteophyte formation and/or the presence of an os styloideum, an accessory ossification center that occurs during embryonic development. When this condition is symptomatic, patients present with complaints of pain and limitation of motion of the affected hand.

Comparison of early passive motion and immobilization after flexor tendon repairs.

Thirty-one flexor tendon repairs in 30 patients managed by early passive motion were retrospectively compared with 31 flexor tendon repairs in 30 patients managed by 3 weeks of postoperative immobilization. Repairs were performed by several surgeons, including plastic surgical residents. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups comparing age, zone of injury, number of tendons repaired, nature of injury, or associated injuries.

Post-traumatic palmar carpal subluxation. Report of two cases.

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.