[Carpal instability--ligamentous instabilities and intracarpal malalignments--explication of the concept of carpal instability].

Normally, intracarpal stability is due to the carpal ligaments as well as to the "spatial coherence" of the carpal bones. "Destabilization" may be due to ligamentous attenuation when sprains and dislocations occur. This will lead to "dynamic instability" in extreme movements of the wrist or to malalignments in the case of long-standing dislocations. The scapholunar, triquetral or midcarpal ligamentous structures may be involved. The loss of spatial coherence by modifications in the form or in the volume of the carpal bones may lead to "compensatory carpal re- or malalignments".