Fig. 10.1
Preoperative AP X-ray demonstrating persistent scaphoid nonunion. (Published with kind permission of © Roberto Diaz and James Chang, 2015. All Rights Reserved)
Fig. 10.2
Preoperative lateral X-ray. (Published with kind permission of © Roberto Diaz and James Chang, 2015. All Rights Reserved)
Management Options
Treatment options discussed with the patient included observation, casting, revision open reduction internal fixation with bone graft, and salvage procedures.
Management Chosen
Given the patient’s persistent pain, young age, and only mild beaking of the radial styloid, revision surgical stabilization with autograft was recommended. Although the MRI could not definitively rule out proximal pole AVN due to metallic artifact, our suspicion for AVN of the proximal pole was low as the incidence of AVN is much lower following scaphoid waist fractures [5]. The patient was consented for hardware removal, open reduction internal fixation with iliac crest bone graft (ICBG) versus vascularized bone graft and radial styloidectomy .
Surgical Technique
Surgery was performed on an outpatient basis under general anesthesia in addition to an infraclavicular regional block for postoperative pain control. The patient was placed in the supine position with a bump under the ipsilateral hip to facilitate ICBG harvesting. A volar approach is preferred when correction of a humpback deformity is required. In this case, the patient’s previous volar incision was used to access the scaphoid and the radial styloid (Fig. 10.3). A radial styloidectomy was performed and previous hardware was removed. The scaphoid fracture was identified and the presence of a nonunion was confirmed. The proximal and distal poles were excavated and all nonviable bone was removed. Bleeding was noted at the proximal pole and therefore, a vascularized bone graft was deemed unnecessary. Scaphoid length and alignment were obtained using a small lamina spreader and Kirschner wires (K-wires) as joysticks. A guidewire was then placed in the center–center position in a retrograde fashion for later placement of a headless compression screw (Fig. 10.4). Wire position was confirmed by intraoperative fluoroscopy and by visualizing the pin as it traversed the nonunion site. The appropriate screw size was then determined. A tricortical autograft wedge graft was then harvested from the ipsilateral iliac crest and contoured on the back table to the proper size. An oscillating saw was then used to create a sagittal slit in the graft to allow placement of the graft over the central scaphoid K-wire (Fig. 10.5). The graft was then inserted into the defect and a derotational K-wire was placed. A compression screw was then inserted over the central guidewire and good compression was observed across the graft (Fig. 10.6, 10.7 and 10.8). The patient was immobilized in a sugar tong splint to prevent forearm rotation.
Fig. 10.3
Intraoperative photograph of the volar approach. (Published with kind permission of © Roberto Diaz and James Chang, 2015. All Rights Reserved)
Fig. 10.4
Intraoperative photograph illustrating excavation of nonviable bone and K-wire placement. (Published with kind permission of © Roberto Diaz and James Chang, 2015. All Rights Reserved)
Fig. 10.5
Intraoperative photograph after preparation of iliac crest bone graft and recipient site. Note the slit in the middle of the tricortical wedge to allow for insertion over the K-wire. (Published with kind permission of © Roberto Diaz and James Chang, 2015. All Rights Reserved)
Fig. 10.6
Twelve-week postoperative AP radiograph. (Published with kind permission of © Roberto Diaz and James Chang, 2015. All Rights Reserved)
Fig. 10.7
Twelve-week postoperative oblique radiograph. (Published with kind permission of © Roberto Diaz and James Chang, 2015. All Rights Reserved)
Fig. 10.8
Twelve-week postoperative lateral radiograph. (Published with kind permission of © Roberto Diaz and James Chang, 2015. All Rights Reserved)
Clinical Course and Outcome
The patient returned to clinic 2 weeks following his surgery and was transitioned into a short-arm thumb spica cast. A bone stimulator was initiated to help promote bone healing. Serial X-rays were obtained at 4-week intervals to evaluate progressive bone healing. The patient was immobilized for a total of 12 weeks. Postoperative X-rays obtained at 12 weeks are shown in Figs. 10.6–10.8. A CT scan obtained at the 12-week mark confirmed near complete union of the scaphoid fracture (Fig. 10.9). Physical therapy was started at the 12-week postoperative visit. At 2 years 5 months postsurgery, the patient was working as a greenskeeper and window washer and was able to perform all work duties without difficulty. Although he has not returned to competitive mountain biking, he does plan to return to this sport in the future. His patient-rated wrist evaluation total score was 6.5 and his quick disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand score was 2.3. Range of motion and strength in the operative and uninjured wrists were comparable as illustrated in Table 10.1.