The dorsal radiocarpal ligament runs obliquely from the distal radius (dorsal rim) to the triquetrum and lunate, providing dorsal capsular reinforcement of the wrist joint. It is the primary dorsal wrist ligament and contributes to carpal row stability during wrist flexion loading. A separate dorsal intercarpal ligament connects the scaphoid to the triquetrum across the proximal carpal row.
Resists volar carpal translation, limits wrist flexion, and reinforces the dorsal capsule to prevent dorsal joint instability.
The dorsal radiocarpal ligament is an important stabiliser assessed in wrist instability patterns. Dorsal intercalated segment instability (DISI) from scapholunate ligament failure causes the lunate to extend dorsally; in this setting the dorsal radiocarpal ligament may be tightened or reconstructed as part of scapholunate repair. Dorsal wrist capsule tears from wrist dorsiflexion injuries involve the dorsal radiocarpal and intercarpal ligaments. Dorsal wrist ganglion cysts commonly arise at the scapholunate interval near the dorsal radiocarpal ligament attachment.
Hyperextension wrist injuries that fail to cause carpal fracture may tear the dorsal radiocarpal and dorsal intercarpal ligaments, producing dorsal wrist pain and instability; MRI arthrogram demonstrates the ligament disruption and associated scapholunate or lunotriquetral injury that may require surgical stabilisation.
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