Long-term results of fracture of the scaphoid. A follow-up study of more than thirty years

J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1994 Feb;76(2):249-52. doi: 10.2106/00004623-199402000-00012.

Abstract

Fifty-six patients who had had a fracture of the scaphoid from January 1950 through December 1959 were interviewed, re-examined, and had radiographs made of both hands an average of thirty-six years (range, thirty-one to forty years) later. The average age at the time of the treatment was twenty-eight years (range, fifteen to forty-five years). Fifty-two of the fifty-six patients were treated at the time of the fracture; the other four had a non-union when first seen. The rate of non-union for the fresh fractures at the most recent follow-up examination was 10 per cent (five of fifty-two). Dorsal intercalated-segment instability was found in three of the fifty-six patients; all three had a pseudarthrosis and manifest radiocarpal osteoarthrosis. Marked radiocarpal osteoarthrosis developed in only one (2 per cent) of the forty-seven patients who had a healed fracture; it was far more common in the group that had a pseudarthrosis, in which the prevalence was five of nine patients. Manifest osteoarthrosis also seemed to be associated with pain or weakness: it had developed in only three (6 per cent) of the forty-nine patients who did not have any symptoms at the re-examination, compared with three of the seven who had symptoms.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Carpal Bones / injuries*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Fracture Healing
  • Fractures, Bone / complications*
  • Fractures, Bone / therapy
  • Fractures, Ununited / diagnostic imaging
  • Fractures, Ununited / epidemiology*
  • Fractures, Ununited / etiology
  • Fractures, Ununited / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Joint Instability / diagnostic imaging
  • Joint Instability / epidemiology*
  • Joint Instability / etiology
  • Joint Instability / physiopathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Osteoarthritis / classification
  • Osteoarthritis / diagnostic imaging
  • Osteoarthritis / epidemiology*
  • Osteoarthritis / etiology
  • Osteoarthritis / physiopathology
  • Postoperative Complications / diagnostic imaging
  • Postoperative Complications / epidemiology*
  • Postoperative Complications / etiology
  • Postoperative Complications / physiopathology
  • Prevalence
  • Pseudarthrosis / diagnostic imaging
  • Pseudarthrosis / epidemiology*
  • Pseudarthrosis / etiology
  • Pseudarthrosis / physiopathology
  • Radiography
  • Range of Motion, Articular
  • Wrist Joint*