Avascular necrosis is caused by a previous acute injury to the wrist that may have gone untreated. This is when the lunate, which is one of eight carpal bones, loses blood supply for an extended period of time. This ultimately leads to tissue death in the bone. Symptoms of this condition include: noticeable loss of wrist extension, loss of wrist range of motion, decreased grip strength, and chronic pain on the back of the hand.
(This answer provided for NATA by the Indiana University Athletic Training Education Program)
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