A cadaveric anatomic study of radial artery pedicle grafts to the scaphoid and lunate.

This study was designed to determine the frequency of available radial styloid and metacarpal vascularized bone pedicle grafts and to determine the potential clinical availability (ie, sufficient length) of each pedicle graft for revascularization procedures to the dorsal and palmar scaphoid and dorsal lunate. Five vascularized bone pedicles (radial styloid 1, radial styloid 2, first metacarpal, second metacarpal, and third metacarpal) were evaluated in 20 fresh-frozen unpaired cadaveric forearms after methylene blue injection. For the dorsal approach to the scaphoid, radial styloid 2 bone graft was most reliable; for a palmar approach to the scaphoid, the first metacarpal graft was the most reliable; and for the dorsal approach to the lunate, the third metacarpal was the most reliable. Not all pedicles were available in all specimens; thus, versatility in using all five pedicles is recommended.