title: Dorsal vascularized grafting for scaphoid nonunion: a comparison of two surgical techniques.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the radiographic and functional outcomes of 2 surgical techniques for treating scaphoid nonunion.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Researchers assessed the outcomes every 2 weeks until bone healing and at discharge.
  
  
  METHODS
  (1) Vascularized bone grafting (VBG) using the 1, 2 intercompartmental suprareticular artery and (2) a distal radius nonvascularized bone graft.
  Time to union (primary), union rate, and functional outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-five patients were followed for 29 months; 2 were lost to final follow-up. Both groups had similar baseline characteristics. The VBG group reached bone union earlier by 12 days (P = 0.002), but union rates were similar (P = 0.312). There was also less ulnar deviation in the VBG group (P = 0.03). There were no other differences between either intervention groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the VBG group attained earlier union, this may not be clinically meaningful, nor justify the greater technical difficulty and use of resources associated with this intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  Therapeutic Level II. See instructions for authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
authors.affiliation: Disciplina de Cirurgia da Mão e Membro Superior, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fábio A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Caporrino
authors.forename: João Baptista G
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Dos Santos
authors.forename: Fernando T
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Penteado
authors.forename: Vinícius Y
authors.initials: VY
authors.lastname: de Moraes
authors.forename: João Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Belloti
authors.forename: Flávio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Faloppa
mesh_terms: D016025:Bone Transplantation; D005599:Fractures, Ununited / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D011859:Radiography; D011884:Radius / Q000098:blood supply / Q000637:transplantation; D020127:Recovery of Function; D021361:Scaphoid Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome