Magnetic resonance imaging of the anterior radiocarpal ligaments.

Magnetic resonance imaging was applied to eight cadaver wrists to evaluate the efficacy of imaging the anterior radiocarpal ligaments. In order to verify a correlation between the magnetic resonance images and anatomic structures, ancillary studies using gadolinium-DTPA ligamentography and gross sectioning of the specimens were performed. The ligaments targeted for evaluation were the radioscaphocapitate, long radiolunate, and short radiolunate ligaments. The highest resolution images were obtained using a 1.5 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging scanner and a surface coil applied to the wrist region, and producing T1-weighted images, with 3 mm thick sections with an 8 cm field of view. The radioscaphocapitate, long radiolunate, and short radiolunate ligaments were most consistently identified in sagittal planes, however they were also identified in coronal planes. The radioscapholunate ligament and the interosseous ligaments between the scaphoid, lunate, and triquetrum were most consistently identified in coronal planes. Transaxial planes provided consistently inferior views, and should be reserved for imaging of the flexor and extensor retinaculae.