title: Scaphoid nonunions treated with 2 headless compression screws and bone grafting.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate union and complication rates associated with the use of 2 headless compression screws and bone grafting for the treatment of scaphoid nonunions.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 19 patients (18 male and 1 female) at an average age of 21 years were treated with open reduction and internal fixation with 2 cannulated, headless, compression screws for scaphoid nonunions. Bone grafting techniques included corticocancellous autograft from the iliac crest in 14 patients, capsular-based vascularized distal radius graft in 3, and medial femoral condyle free vascularized bone graft in 2. Patients were treated an average 19 months after the injury. Fracture nonunions were at the waist (n = 12), proximal third (n = 5), or distal third (n = 2) of the scaphoid. Dorsal (n = 7) and volar (n = 12) surgical approaches were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All fractures had clinical and radiographic evidence of bone union at an average of 3.6 months. Postoperative computed tomography scans were available in 13 patients and showed union without evidence of screw penetration of the scaphoid cortex. No complications occurred in this series, and no revision procedures have been necessary.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that the use of 2 headless compression screws for the treatment of scaphoid nonunions is safe and effective. A variety of bone grafting techniques can be used with this technique. The use of 2 compression screws may provide superior biomechanical stability and ultimately improve outcomes measured with future long-term comparative studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Therapeutic IV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC; Triangle Orthopedic Associates, Durham, NC.
authors.forename: Ryan M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC; Triangle Orthopedic Associates, Durham, NC.
authors.forename: Fraser J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Leversedge
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC; Triangle Orthopedic Associates, Durham, NC.
authors.forename: J Mack
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Aldridge
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC; Triangle Orthopedic Associates, Durham, NC.
authors.forename: Marc J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Richard
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC; Triangle Orthopedic Associates, Durham, NC. Electronic address: d.ruch@dm.duke.edu.
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Ruch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods; D001863:Bone Screws; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology; D005599:Fractures, Ununited / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D021361:Scaphoid Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Fracture; navicular; nonunion; scaphoid; screw