title: Idiopathic avascular necrosis of the scaphoid. A case report.
abstract: Avascular necrosis of the carpal scaphoid is a common disorder after a trauma, i.e. a fracture or mild and repetitive injury. Sometime it can be associated with a systemic disease or chronic steroid intake. Rarely avascular necrosis is found in the absence of a known etiology and so termed "idiopathic". We report a case of idiopathic avascular necrosis of the scaphoid. A painful wrist of six months' duration was observed in a 62-year-old housewife. No history of trauma or steroid administration could be elicited. X-ray showed an osteolytic area with irregular edges surrounded by a ring of osteosclerosis at the proximal pole of the left scaphoid. This datum was confirmed by the magnetic resonance imaging.
authors.affiliation: Cattedra di Terapia Medica, Università, Siena.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Martini
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Valenti
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giovani
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nuti
mesh_terms: D002348:Carpal Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D010020:Osteonecrosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography