Hello,

Any help is greatly appreciated! Sorry, long intro.

About my injury:
I am going to describe this the best I can. I am currently recovery from a comminuted intra articular distal radius fracture. There is only one fracture across the articular surface of the radial bone. I am 4.5 months into recovery of the fracture which had an approx 2 mm gap and has an approx 1 mm step off. The fracture is located in the articular surface of the radius towards the thumb side just where the radius starts to arc upwards. The fracture travels straight from the back of my wrist to the palm side of my wrist. Looking at the x-ray, which was taken palm down, it appears the step off is at the dorsal side of the wrist. In other words, the step off gradually starts from the back side of the radial bone at 0mm to the dorsal side of the radial bone at ~1.5 mm. Surgery was not performed. Sorry, a picture would be better.

The reason for my concern:
I recently had an Arthrogram MRI done due to a suspicion from my Orthopedic surgeon that I had a scapholunate ligament tear. My Orthopedic Surgeon went over the results with me this past Tuesday andinformed me that all of my ligaments look good. He also told me that there was some bad news. He informed me that I had chondromalacia in the joint. He said I am only the second patient of his to ever have an MRI 3-4 months after an injury so hedoesn’t have a lot to go on with what to expect or what this really means at this point. This is what was shown on the MRI report:

"There has been interval healing of the previously demonstrated comminuted intraarticular fracture of the distal radial metaphysis. Subtle irregularity along the central to dorsal radial articular surface remains with overlying grade 2-early grade 3 chondromalacia in this region with grade 2 chondral changes also evident along the proximal scaphoid pole. There is a type II lunate without MRI changes to suggest harmatolunate impingement. Ulnar variance is grossly neutral."

The reason for my post is that I am no longer seeing my orthopedic surgeon as he considers my wrist healed. He told me that in his opinion I should not have any problems until I reach 50. I am 33 years old and active. I have a specialized job that sometimes requires physical labor. Can someone tell me what my MRI means and if I should be alarmed? Again, my doctor informed me that he was unable to tell me how he should interpret it as it was only the second MRI he has seen this soon after an injury and he didnt know if it was normal to expect it. Should I seek a wrist/hand specialist? Thank you!

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