Scapholunate instability after distal radius volar plating.

Background: Prior to volar locked plating and early motion protocols, ligamentous injuries incidentally associated with distal radius fractures may have been indirectly treated with immobilization. Our goal was to determine the prevalence of scapholunate instability in our population, while identifying those who may have had progression of instability.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 221 distal radius fractures treated with a volar locking plate during a 6-year period.