Surgical Outcome of Stable Scaphoid Nonunion without Bone Graft

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the results of Acutrak-screw fixation without bone-graft for the treatment of stable scaphoid nonunion and to assess its prognostic factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifteen patients who underwent internal fixation using Acutrak-screw without bone graft for stable scaphoid nonunion were studied. Standard radiographs and CT were analyzed for degenerative changes (presence of cystic change and periscaphoid osteoarthritis), the nonunion site using fragment ratio and union. Clinically, patients age and the interval to surgery were evaluated. RESULTS: Mean follow-up duration was 31 months and 11 of 15 (73.3 percentages) cases healed at mean time of 12.8 weeks. Fragment ratio of nonunion site was 37.2 percentages in nonunion group and 54.2 percentages in union group (p=0.016). Presence of cystic change and periscaphoid osteoarthritis showed no singnificant statistical difference in both groups. Younger age lower than 20 years was closely related with bone union (p=0.001). But there were little correlation between bone union and interval to surgery. CONCLUSION: Internal fixation without bone graft showed 73.3 percentages of overall union rate in the treatment of stable scaphoid nonunion. And young patients who have distally located stable scaphoid nonunion can be successfully treated with internal fixation without bone graft.