title: Incorrect radiographic evaluation after vascularized bone grafting for scaphoid fracture or nonunion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study is a review of patients with scaphoid non-unions treated with a dorsal vascularized bone graft. The study highlights a subset of patients incorrectly diagnosed as graft failures.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review of patients who received vascularized grafts for scaphoid nonunions was performed over a four-year period. The vascularized graft of choice for this group was the dorsal radial extensor compartment artery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five patients from a scaphoid fracture group who were treated with vascularized grafts were diagnosed as being failures (average of five months). None of these patients had tenderness on palpation of the scaphoid, and they were scheduled for revised vascularized grafts. All patients at the time of surgery were found to have healed. These patients were treated with arthrolysis, resulting in healing and full range of motion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Scaphoid vascularized grafts may have a markedly delayed radiographic healing time. Reoperation to perform secondary vascularized procedures may result in unnecessary surgery. Early imaging following a scaphoid vascularized graft may be inaccurate and may demonstrate a continued nonunion.
authors.affiliation: Division of Orthopedic Surgery, Montreal General Hospital, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Morin
authors.forename: Rudy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Reindl
authors.forename: Gregory K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Berry
authors.forename: Edward J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Harvey