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The Clinical Significance of the Scaphoid Cortical Ring Sign: A Study of Normal Wrist X-Rays

From the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Saiseikai Shimonoseki General Hospital, Shimonoseki, and the Ogori Daiichi General Hospital, Yamaguchi, Japan

Correspondence: Yukio Abe, MD, PhD, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Saiseikai Shimonoseki General Hospital, 8-5-1 Yasuoka-cyo, Shimonoseki 759-6603, Japan. Tel.: +81 832 62 2300; fax: +81 832 62 2301. E-mail: HandsurgeonA{at}aol.com.

The scaphoid cortical ring sign, identified as a radiological indicator of rotary subluxation of the scaphoid, is frequently seen on normal wrist X-rays. This study examined the clinical significance of this sign in 139 normal wrists in 114 patients, with a mean age of 52 (range 15–81) years. In this study, there were no significant relationships between the appearance of a cortical ring sign and age, gender or hand dominance. Consequently, a cortical ring sign indicates scaphoid flexion, but may be visible in the normal wrist at any age or gender and in either hand and is not necessarily an indicator of pathology in the wrist.

Key Words: scaphoid • wrist • cortical ring sign • radiograph • carpal instability

Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume), Vol. 33, No. 2, 126-129 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/1753193407087572


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