Diagnosis of perilunate dislocation in the Emergency Department

Perilunate dislocation as well as other perilunate injuries are significant disorders of the wrist usually caused by high energy falls, and are associated with a high incidence of chronic pain and disability. A case is presented of a 27 year old footballer with a complicated perilunate fracture dislocation. The mechanisms involved in this injury are discussed , as well as the appropriate clinical and radiological examination of these patients to reduce the risk of a missed perilunate injury.