RESUMO
Perilunate dislocations [PLD] and fracture-dislocations [PLFD] are severe wrist injuries and most difficult to manage. The initial diagnosis is missed in many instances of these serious injuries that may compromise the outcome. We present our results in the management of nineteen cases of perilunate dislocations and fracture dislocations. This study demonstrates the prognosis with the different treatment techniques showing that good results can be expected by closed reduction, with or without internal fixation. The severest injuries with multiple fractures of the carpal bones as well as neglected and missed cases for longer than four weeks from injury gave the worst prognosis. We would like to stress on the importance of early diagnosis, immediate referral to a specialised hand surgeon for the definitive management and the important role of intensive physiotherapy for these major hand injuries