The purpose of this study was to evaluate the risk factors in the occurrence of scapholunate dissociation in relation to the intra-articular fracture of distal radius.

We performed a retrospective evaluation of 170 cases of the fractures. Average age was 52 years(range, 24-85 years). We reviewed both medical records and radiographic films and analyzed the data according to age, width of the medullary cavity of the third metacarpal bone and fracture morphology.

Nine cases(5.3%) of scapholunate dissociation, mean age of 56 years, all had widened medullary cavity, radial styloid process fracture with radial displacement, a vertical fracture line invading articular surface, depression of scaphoid facet(6 cases) and lunate facet(3 cases). Degree of fracture displacement was not significant.

In distal radius intra-articular fracture which occurred in old patient with widened metacarpal medulla and had a radially displaced radial styloid fracture, an articular surface involving vertical fracture line and a depression of scaphoid or lunate facet, we should be careful in the concurrence of scapholunate dissociation.