| Terry-Thomas sign | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Arrow pointing to the gap between scaphoid and lunate bones. Its name derives fromTerry-Thomas, who had a similar looking gap between his two front teeth | |
| Differential diagnosis | scapholunate ligament dissociation |
Inradiology, theTerry-Thomas sign is ascapholunate ligament dissociation on ananteroposterior view of the wrist.[1][2] Most commonly a result of a fall on the outstretched hand (FOOSH), thescapholunate ligament ruptures resulting in separation of thelunate andscaphoid bones. This burst causes thescaphoid bone to dorsally rotate.[3] A gap of more than 3mm ispathognomonic for scapholunate dissociation.[4]
The resulting separation between the scaphoid and lunate bones leaves a space on the x-ray that is similar to the gap comedianTerry-Thomas had between his front teeth. For newer radiology students who do not know who Terry-Thomas was, this finding might also be known as theDavid Letterman sign.[3]
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