An injury to the ligaments in the wrist is often dismissed as a ‘sprain’. A disruption to these ligaments can result in instability or dissociation of the carpal bones. It is important that wrist pain following an injury is investigated to exclude carpal instability (most commonly ‘scapholunate instability’, or instability between the scaphoid bone and the lunate bone). Depending on the type and degree of instability present, treatment options may include a proprioceptive exercise program, an arthroscopic dorsal capsulodesis, tendon weave procedure or partial fusion.