Sonographic Measurement of the Dorsal Capsule After Arthroscopic Dorsal Capsuloligamentous Repair for Scapholunate Complex Injury: A Pilot Study

Objective: Arthroscopic dorsal capsuloligamentous repair (ADCLR) has emerged as an effective approach for dynamic scapholunate instability. This pilot study was designed to evaluate postoperative capsuloligamentous healing through sonographic assessment and to describe the early clinical outcomes following ADCLR. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 15 consecutive patients who underwent ADCLR, between September 2022 and February 2024. Dorsal capsule thickness was measured by sonography preoperatively, at 6 weeks, and at 3 months. Functional outcomes were assessed using the patient-rated wrist evaluation (PRWE) and the quick disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand (DASH) questionnaire. Results: The cohort included nine men (60%) and six women (40%) with a mean age of 33.4 ± 12.3 years (range: 16–56). Dorsal capsule thickness significantly increased from baseline (sagittal: 0.27 ± 0.05 cm; transverse: 0.22 ± 0.04 cm) to 6 weeks (sagittal: 0.60 ± 0.09 cm; transverse: 0.47 ± 0.09 cm), before partially regressing at 3 months (sagittal: 0.43 ± 0.10 cm; transverse: 0.39 ± 0.07 cm), suggesting a dynamic healing process. Mean PRWE improved by 27 ± 18.5 points at 3 months and 45.5 ± 9.9 points at 6 months, while Quick DASH scores improved by 12.7 ± 6.5 and 19.7 ± 5.9 points, respectively. Conclusion: Sonographic surveillance after ADCLR revealed transient dorsal capsular thickening, consistent with postoperative healing. These findings would suggest the relevance of sonographic monitoring and warrant future comparative studies, including failed cases, to clarify the correlation between thickening and successful ligamentous healing.