Natural history of scaphoid non-union, with special reference to "asymptomatic" cases.
33 patients with non-union of the carpal scaphoid were diagnosed by X-ray examination two to 37 years following the original trauma. All of the patients could be contacted and summoned for a re-examination ten to 17 years later. X-rays revealed a 100% incidence of progressive radio-carpal osteoarthritis. It is concluded that freedom of pain is not a reliable prognostic indicator, and that all patients with non-union of the carpal scaphoid are likely to benefit from surgical treatment of the pseudarthrosis. The only exception to this rule might be the patient in whom the radio-carpal joint is already deteriorated by an advanced degenerative arthritis.
Lindström
G
G
Department of Hand Surgery, University of Umeå Hospital, Sweden.
Nyström
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002348:Carpal Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology; D005599:Fractures, Ununited / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology