Carpal scaphoid: radiographic pattern of dislocation.

Plain radiographs help establish the diagnosis and pattern of dislocation of the carpal scaphoid. Isolated dislocations can be treated with closed reduction, but dislocations in conjunction with axial carpal disruption must be treated with open reduction to fix the unstable radial half of the carpus to the stable ulnar half. Two case reports illustrate each type of carpal scaphoid dislocation.