[Radio-carpal palmar subluxation: treatment by volar rim osteotomy of the radius].

A case of post-traumatic carpal proximal instability which was surgically treated two months after the initial trauma is reported. A 41 years old man presented a volar subluxation of the scaphoid associated with a fracture of the volar rim of the distal radius and an increased scapho-lunate gap. This subluxation was initially missed because of the discretion of the radiographic signs and was confirmed by CT scan. A volar rim osteotomy with bone grafting was performed for a buttress support which allowed the reduction of the volar subluxation of the external part of the carpus. Fourteen months after the operation radiographs showed the effectiveness of the butress support for the treatment of proximal carpal instability, but also arthritic changes in the proximal part of the scaphoid.