PhD D. (Daniel) Bakker

Below is a brief summary of the dissertation:

The Scapholunate ligament (SL ligament) is an important wrist ligament that stabilizes the carpal bones. When torn, it can lead to pain, reduced mobility, and potentially arthritis. This study focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of SL injuries.
Surgery may be necessary for a torn SL ligament. Two techniques were compared: capsulodesis and tenodesis. Capsulodesis remained stable up to a 55-degree bend, while tenodesis did not any type of failure until 30 degrees. This helps surgeons make informed choices about treatment.
After surgery, immobilization is recommended, but for how long? A review study found that a shorter recovery period is just as effective as a longer one. Patients who started moving their wrist after just a few days recovered as well as those who waited for weeks.
SL injuries often occur alongside wrist fractures. Interestingly, patients with untreated SL injuries had similar outcomes after one year compared to those without such injuries.
Diagnosis remains challenging. Surgeons often use arthroscopy, but assessments vary significantly. Additional imaging tends to lead to more invasive surgeries, raising questions about the reliability of this method.
Finally, online patient information about SL injuries was found to be of low quality and difficult to understand, highlighting the need for better education.