Epidemic lunate dislocation and a single-handed method of reduction

Dislocation of the lunate bone in the wrist is one of the more common carpal injuries.An epidemic of these injuries during the war led to a simplified method being developed. The usual reduction can be tiring and difficult because of the sustained traction required. These problems were overcome by the simple method of the surgeon's forearm working in front of the patient's forearm so that with interlocked fingers considerable mechanical advantage and sustained traction could be employed, leaving the other hand free for direct pressure on the dislocated bone. Reduction was achieved by this method in a bilateral case that had been missed for a week.