Long-term results of fracture of the scaphoid. A follow-up study of more than thirty years.
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.
Düppe
H
H
Department of Orthopaedics, Malmö General Hospital, Sweden.
Johnell
O
O
Lundborg
G
G
Karlsson
M
M
Redlund-Johnell
I
I
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002348:Carpal Bones / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D017102:Fracture Healing; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D005599:Fractures, Ununited / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015995:Prevalence; D011542:Pseudarthrosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D014955:Wrist Joint