Scaphoid fracture in the young athlete--therapeutic outcome of internal fixation using the Herbert screw.

Journal and index pages often block iframe embedding. This reader keeps the evidence details in Orthonotes and leaves the source page one click away.

Abstract

[Indexed for MEDLINE] 18. J Wrist Surg. 2023 Apr 5;12(5):407-412. doi: 10.1055/s-0043-1760753. eCollection 2023 Oct. Scaphoid Length Loss Following Nonunion Is Associated with Dorsal Intercalated Segment Instability. Bulstra AEJ(1)(2), Vidovic AJ(1), Doornberg JN(1)(2), Jaarsma RL(1), Buijze GA(2)(3)(4). Author information: (1)Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Flinders Medical Centre, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia. (2)Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Amsterdam UMC, Location Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. (3)Department of Hand and Upper Limb Surgery, Clinique Générale d'Annecy, Annecy, France. (4)Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Montpellier University Medical Center, Lapeyronie Hospital, Montpellier, France. Background  Dorsal intercalated segment instability (DISI) in scaphoid nonunions is frequently attributed to fracture location relative to ligamentous attachments onto the scaphoid apex. We hypothesize scaphoid length loss to have a stronger correlation with DISI deformity than fracture location in patients with scaphoid nonunion. Questions/Purposes  To investigate the correlation between (1) scaphoid length loss, (2) fracture location relative to the scaphoid apex, and (3) type of nonunion (Herbert classification) and DISI deformity in skeletally mature patients with scaphoid nonunion. Patients and Methods  Twenty-seven cases of computed tomography (CT)-confirmed scaphoid nonunion (>6 months) were retrospectively included. Our primary outcome was the degree of DISI as measured by the radiolunate (RL) angle on CT. Scaphoid length loss was expressed as height-to-length (H/L) ratio. Fracture location was classified as proximal or distal to the scaphoid apex. Nonunions were classified as fibrous unions (type D1) or pseudoarthrosis (type D2). The correlation between RL angle, H/L ratio, fracture location, and nonunion type was evaluated. Results  H/L ratio was the only factor associated with the degree of DISI as measured by RL angle. As scaphoid length loss increased (increasing H/L ratio), the RL angle increased. There was no significant difference in RL angle between fractures located proximal (30 degrees) or distal (28 degrees) to the scaphoid apex, or type D1 (31 degrees) versus type D2 (28 degrees) nonunions. There was no correlation between patient age, sex, or wrist side affected and RL angle. Conclusions  Scaphoid length loss, rather than fracture location, is correlated to the degree of DISI deformity in patients with scaphoid nonunion. This highlights the importance of restoring scaphoid height when planning scaphoid nonunion reconstruction. Level of Evidence  Level III, diagnostic study. Thieme. All rights reserved. DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1760753 PMCID: PMC10569863