Wrist gouty arthritis presenting as scaphoid erosions with scapholunate ligament disruption

Lee YHD, Tan HW, Lee HC
Correspondence: Dr Lee Yee Han Dave, davelyh@singnet.com.sg

ABSTRACT
We report a 43-year-old man who presented with features of acute wrist inflammation with scapholunate dissociation. Radiologically, erosions were noted in the proximal pole of the scaphoid. The patient underwent wrist arthrotomy, exploration and washout with intraoperative bacterial cultures and histology specimens were obtained. Histological analysis revealed the diagnosis of gout. We discuss the clinical presentation and literature review of this topic. This case illustrates that gout may mimic infection.

Keywords: gouty arthritis, scapholunate dissociation, wrist arthritis, wrist gouty arthritis
Singapore Med J 2008; 49(8): e202-4