Carpal Coalitions; Failures of Differentiation of the Carpus: A Description of Cases

Synostosis of carpal bones originates from lack of cavitation at the site of the future joint space with subsequent chondrification and ossification during the 4 to 8 weeks of intrauterine life. It is mostly seen as a chance finding discovered on radiographs. These coalitions are often asymptomatic, but can give complaints after trauma. We report six patients with different congenital carpal coalitions. These cases include synostoses of: scaphoid and trapezium, scaphoid and trapezium with a large scapholunate distance, lunate and triquetrum, capitate and trapezoid, capitate and hamate, triquetrum and pisiform. We also give a review of the literature and treatment proposal.