Over the past twenty-five years or so a great many reports and scientific articles have appeared in hand-surgery literature to increase awareness and knowledge of wrist-ligament injuries, their diagnosis, and appropriate treatment.  Prior to that, many of these injuries were not recognized or diagnosed and over time an injured wrist would often develop severe arthritis.
Wrist-ligament injuries must be recognized early on, within the first few weeks of an injury, to avoid long-term problems and the development of arthritis.
The position of the bones of the wrist is extremely important, and abnormal gaps between any of the bones may indicate that the ligament between these two bones has been disrupted.
For example, in the most common ligament injury, to the scapholunate ligament (between the scaphoid and lunate bones of the wrist), a disruption, or tear, of the ligament will result in instability of the wrist.  On X-ray, an abnormal gap, the Terry Thomas sign, can be noted between the scaphoid and lunate bones, and on the lateral X-ray view, the lunate can be seen to face in a dorsal, or backward, direction.  For this reason, an orthopedic surgeon experienced in hand surgery should evaluate all serious wrist injuries where this diagnosis has not been definitely excluded.