Anatomic dissections relating the posterior interosseous nerve to the carpus, and the etiology of dorsal wrist ganglion pain

Prompted by the finding of a neuroma, which clinically simulated a recurrent ganglion, we dissected the terminal branches of the posterior interosseous nerve. A constant relationship between these terminal branches and the scapholunate ligament was demonstrated. Since most, if not all, dorsal wrist ganglions arise from the scapholunate ligament, we suggest that the aching wrist pain associated with a dorsal wrist ganglion may be due to a compression neuropathy of the posterior interosseous nerve.