The scapholunate ligament is a crucial anchor between the scaphoid and the lunate bones and ensures they move synchronously. It is critical to the wrist articulation as the scaphoid and lunate form the crux of the proximal carpal row on which the distal carpal row rests.

An injury such as a fall onto the wrist can either fracture the bones or sever the ligament. Up to one in 5 distal radius fractures have an associated scapholunate ligament injury. If this torn ligament is not repaired or reconstructed timeously, then the wrist begins to degenerate in a predictable manner, resulting in the so-called SLAC (Scapholunate Advanced Collapse) wrist.

Patients commonly present many months following a badly sprained wrist, with some persistent intermittent discomfort in the wrist. There may be a myriad of symptoms from sharp stabbing pains to stiffness, swelling, clunking, weakness or the feeling of an unstable wrist.