Skip to main content
OrthoVellum
Knowledge Hub

Study

  • Topics
  • MCQs
  • ISAWE
  • Operative Surgery
  • Flashcards

Company

  • About Us
  • Editorial Policy
  • Contact
  • FAQ
  • Blog

Legal

  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Medical Disclaimer
  • Copyright & DMCA
  • Refund Policy

Support

  • Help Center
  • Accessibility
  • Report an Issue
OrthoVellum

© 2026 OrthoVellum. For educational purposes only.

Not affiliated with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.

Hand & Upper Limb
advanced
X-Type

SLAC Wrist (Scapholunate Advanced Collapse)

Wrist Arthritis

A 52-year-old right-hand-dominant carpenter presents with a 5-year history of progressively worsening right wrist pain. He recalls a fall onto his outstretched hand approximately 20 years ago that was treated conservatively. Examination reveals dorsoradial wrist tenderness, reduced grip strength, and painful range of motion, particularly with extension. PA radiograph shows widening of the scapholunate interval (Terry Thomas sign), dorsal tilting of the lunate (DISI pattern), sclerosis and joint space narrowing between the radial styloid and scaphoid, and early changes between the capitate and lunate. Regarding this condition:

Mark each as TRUE or FALSE

A

This is Scapholunate Advanced Collapse (SLAC) wrist, the most common pattern of wrist arthritis, occ...

B

SLAC arthritis follows a predictable pattern: Stage I involves the radial styloid-scaphoid articulat...

C

The radiolunate joint is the first joint to be affected in SLAC arthritis due to the abnormal loadin...

D

The pathomechanics of SLAC involve the scaphoid assuming a flexed position while the lunate extends ...

E

Based on the radiographic findings showing radial styloid and radioscaphoid arthritis with early cap...

Answer the questions to see explanations

Click T (True) or F (False) for each option