Increased radiodensity of the proximal pole of the scaphoid: a common finding in computed tomography imaging of the wrist.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the proximal pole (PP) of the scaphoid is denser than the distal pole (DP) in a diverse population of patients undergoing computed tomography (CT) imaging of the wrist.


METHODS
Sixty-nine patients who had CT of the wrist were retrospective reviewed. We measured CT density of the medullary bone of PP and DP of the scaphoid and calculated PP/DP ratio. To evaluate the variability of PP/DP ratio, we compared the ratios of these 3 groups. These patients were separated into 3 groups based on their diagnoses: group 1, healed scaphoids treated by casting; group 2, scaphoid nonunions; group 3, intact scaphoids.


RESULTS
Proximal pole was denser than DP in most subjects. Proximal pole/distal pole ratio was similar among groups (P < 0.05). Fracture healing, sex, and age did not affect this ratio. However, we did not study scaphoids with avascular necrosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Proximal pole was denser than DP in most of our subjects, including those with intact scaphoids, healing scaphoid fractures, and nonunions.
Cheung
Yvonne Y
YY
Department of Radiology, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA. Yvonne.Cheung@Hitchcock.org
Naspinsky
Scott R
SR
Goodwin
Douglas W
DW
Murphy
James M
JM
Nutting
John T
JT
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D021361:Scaphoid Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000293:injuries*; D012737:Sex Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014953:Wrist / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014954:Wrist Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis