Figure 1

Diagrammatic representation of the two patterns of carpal malalignment (a) intact radius with the normal wrist joint. RLA and VT, both have been drawn as zero for easier understanding, (b) distal radial fracture with the midcarpal malalignment. Lunate and the fracture fragment both are rotated dorsally together as one piece. The lunate's axis and the axis of the distal radial articular surface, both maintain nearly collinear relationship with ERLF measured as zero, (c) distal radial fracture with the radio-carpal malalignment showing dorsal rotation of the fracture fragment alone without taking the lunate with it. Lunate is seen maintaining the neutral alignment but acutely subluxed dorsally with ERLF of more than 25°.