Triquetral Fracture
Fracture of the Triquetrum

• Fractures of the triquetrum usually occur from forced hyperflexion or as an avulsion injury
  
  
• Next to fractures of the scaphoid, triquetral fractures are the second most common carpal bone to fracture
  
  
• They are frequently seen as dorsal chip fractures only on the lateral projection since the pisiform usually overlies the triquetrum on the frontal projection of the wrist
  
  
• The body of the triquetrum may also be fractured, usually transversely.
  
  
• Triquetral fractures may be associated with transcaphoid perilunate dislocations of the wrist
  
  
• The dislocation may have been reduced so a triquetral fracture from the proximal radial aspect of the bone may indicate the presence of a former dislocation
  
  
• Patients will complain of point tenderness on the dorsum of the wrist
  

Triquetral fracture. There is a small avulsion from the dorsum of the triquetrum seen only
on the lateral projection (red arrow). The pisiform overlies the triquetrum in the AP and oblique views and tends to obscure the fracture (white arrows).

For the same photo without the arrows, click here.