The dorsal radiotriquetral ligament, also called the dorsal radiocarpal ligament, is the principal dorsal radiocarpal ligament, running obliquely from the dorsal margin of the distal radius to the dorsal surface of the triquetrum, with some fibres to the lunate. It is a broad, strong band and the primary dorsal stabiliser of the carpus, resisting flexion and ulnar translation of the proximal carpal row.
| Origin | Dorsal rim of the distal radius, near Lister tubercle |
|---|---|
| Insertion | Dorsal surface of the triquetrum, with some fibres to the lunate |
Restrains dorsal carpal subluxation, resists excessive ulnar translation of the carpus on the radius, and guides the helical screw-home motion of the proximal carpal row during wrist radial and ulnar deviation.
The dorsal radiotriquetral ligament is the key structure repaired during dorsal radiocarpal ligament reconstruction procedures for carpal instability with ulnar translation, and it may be tightened as part of scapholunate repair for DISI. It is assessed during wrist arthroscopy from the radiocarpal space and can be distinguished from the dorsal intercarpal ligament that runs from the triquetrum to the scaphoid. Dorsal wrist ganglia commonly arise near the scapholunate interval close to its attachment. Surgical approaches to the dorsal wrist should preserve or repair this ligament, for example with a ligament-sparing capsulotomy, to maintain carpal stability.
Forced wrist flexion or ulnar deviation can stretch or tear the dorsal radiotriquetral ligament, producing dorsal wrist pain, loss of grip strength, and a positive dorsal radiocarpal stress test, often managed with splinting and physiotherapy but requiring arthroscopic assessment in persistent cases.
Attritional failure of the dorsal radiotriquetral ligament in inflammatory arthritis allows the entire carpus to migrate ulnarly on the radius, producing a characteristic deformity and requiring ligament reconstruction or radiocarpal fusion.
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