How can I tell if I have a torn ligament in my wrist?

Reviewed by Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal Medicine

Diagnosing a torn wrist ligament is often challenging, even with advanced imaging. Standard X-rays and MRIs frequently miss tears in smaller ligaments, such as the scapholunate ligament, which connects two key bones in the wrist. Because these injuries can be subtle yet lead to chronic pain, instability, or arthritis if untreated, accurate diagnosis is essential.

If you're experiencing wrist pain, swelling, or weakness and aren't sure what's causing it, waiting for answers can delay proper care. A free, instant, online symptom check can help you better understand your symptoms, identify possible causes, and guide your next steps—whether that means seeing a specialist or requesting specific imaging. It takes just minutes and could save you weeks of uncertainty.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/20/2026

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Explanation

Identifying a torn ligament in the wrist can be tricky. Some wrist tests and MRI scans may not always give clear answers, especially for certain ligaments. For example, the scapholunate ligament, which is important for wrist stability, might not show obvious signs of injury on these tests.

Wrist Tests: While there are tests to check for ligament damage, they might not always be reliable.
MRI Scans: MRI can help see inside the wrist, but it might miss some ligament tears.

If you suspect a wrist ligament injury, start by using our free AI symptom checker to help identify your symptoms, then consult with a healthcare professional who can consider all symptoms and test results.

(References)

Prosser R, Harvey L, Lastayo P, Hargreaves I, Scougall P, & Herbert RD. (2011). Provocative wrist tests and MRI are of limited diagnostic .... Journal of physiotherapy, 22093123.
Gajdoš R, Pilný J, & Pokorná A. (2016). Injury to the Scapholunate Ligament in Distal Radius .... Acta chirurgiae orthopaedicae et traumatologiae Cechoslovaca, 28102809.
Greditzer HG 4th, Zeidenberg J, Kam CC, Gray RR, Clifford PD, Mintz DN, & Jose J. (2016). Optimal detection of scapholunate ligament tears with MRI. Acta radiologica (Stockholm, Sweden : 1987), 26861205.

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