SCAPHOID FRACTURES AND NONUNIONS Flashcards
Blood supply to scaphoid
Major supply = dorsal carpal branch (branch of radial artery)
- enters dorsal surface via non-articular ridge
- supplies proximal 80% of scaphoid via retrograde flow
Minor supply = superficial palmar branch of radial artery
- enters scaphoid tubercle
- supplies distal 20% of scaphoid
Pathoanatomy of humpback deformity with scaphoid fractures
Humpback deformity = apex dorsal deformity
Proximal fragment extends with lunate via SL ligament
Distal fragment flexes with trapezium and trapezoid
Classification of scaphoid fractures
Based on anatomic location
Waist (middle 1/3) = most common (70%)
Distal pole (distal 1/3) = 10-20%
Proximal pole (proximal 1/3) = 10-20%
Differentials for radial-sided wrist pain
Bony vs. soft-tissue Bony causes 1. Distal radius fracture 2. Scaphoid fracture 3. Perilunate/ lunate dislocation 4. Base of thumb fracture 5. Radiocarpal arthritis 6. SLAC/ SNAC wrist 7. Base of thumb arthritis 8. STT arthritis Soft-tissue causes 1. SL ligament injury 2. FCR tendonitis 3. DeQuervain's tenosynovitis 4. Intersection syndrome 5. SRN neuroma
4 views in a scaphoid series
- PA
- PA with ulnar deviation
- Lateral
- Semi-pronated oblique view
7 radiographic signs of scaphoid fracture instability
- Displacement > 1mm
- Comminution
- Vertical or oblique vs. transverse fracture pattern
- Humpback deformity = intrascaphoid angle > 35deg (normal = 25deg)
- Scaphoid collapse = scaphoid height:length ratio > 0.65 (normal < 0.65)
- SL angle > 70deg (normal = 30-60deg)
- RL angle > 15deg dorsal (normal 0 +/- 10deg)
Indications for bone scan with suspected scaphoid fractures
Bone scans have 100% sensitivity and specificity for occult scaphoid fractures AFTER 72HRS
Indications for CT scan with scaphoid fractures
Best imaging modality for
1. Assessment of deformity = sagittal CT best for measurement of intrascaphoid angle
2. Assessment of nonunions
CT with 1mm slices along axis of scaphoid best
Indications for MRI with scaphoid fractures
Best imaging modality for
- Occult fractures = 100% sensitivity and specificity within 24hrs
- Associated ligamentous injury
- Vascularity of proximal fragment
- contrast enhanced MRI or non-enhanced T1 weighted images (low signal = avascular) are best
Management options for patients with normal xrays but high clinical suspicion for scaphoid fracture
- MRI if < 72hrs
- Bone scan if > 72hrs
- Immobilise in thumb spica cast, reassess clinically and radiologically in 14-21 days
Percutaneous fixation (compared to casting) of undisplaced scaphoid waist fractures
- Faster time to union
2. Faster return to work
Factor affecting time to union and union rate of scaphoid fractures
Depends on location
- Distal pole and scaphoid tubercle fractures
- average time to union 6wks
- union rate almost 100% - Undisplaced waist fractures
- average time to union 8wks
- union rate almost 90-95% - Undisplaced proximal pole fractures
- average time to union 12wks
- union rate < 50%
Assessment of scaphoid union
Clinical and radiological
- Clinical = based on snuffbox tenderness
- Radiological = based on trabeculations across fracture site
- CT is best to assess union
- no callus with scaphoid fracture healing = most of scaphoid is covered by cartilage
10 surgical indications for scaphoid fractures
- Displacement > 1mm
- Comminution
- Vertical or oblique vs. transverse fracture pattern
- Proximal pole fractures
- Humpback deformity = intrascaphoid angle > 35deg (normal = 25deg)
- Scaphoid collapse = scaphoid height:length ratio > 0.65 (normal < 0.65)
- SL angle > 70deg (normal = 30-60deg)
- RL angle > 15deg dorsal (normal 0 +/- 10deg)
- Scaphoid nonunions with or without AVN
- Scaphoid fractures associated with perilunate injuries
Volar approach to scaphoid: Advantages Disadvantages Indications Contraindications Technique
- Advantages
- lower risk of injury to blood supply of scaphoid
- allows exposure of entire scaphoid
- allows correction of humpback deformity - Disadvantages
- Indications
- waist and distal pole fractures - Contraindications
- proximal pole fractures - Technique
- interval is between FCR and radial artery