| Sign In to gain access to subscriptions and/or personal tools. |
Scaphoid Non-Union: The Role of Vascularized Grafting In Recalcitrant Non-Unions of the ScaphoidFrom the Wrightington Hospital, Wrightington, Wigan & Leigh NHS Trust, Appley Bridge, Wigan, UK Correspondence: Mr A.D. Tambe, 7 Calder Avenue, Nether Poppleton, York YO26 6RG, UK. Tel.: +44 1904 791032., E-mail: anant_tambe{at}yahoo.com
Achieving union using conventional grafts has a high chance of failure in patients with recalcitrant non-union (persistent pseudarthrosis) of the scaphoid bone, an avascular proximal fragment and previous failed surgeries because of poor host bed vascularity. Eleven patients with long-standing non-union were treated with vascularized pedicle bone grafting and supplementary corticocancellous grafting. Five had screw fixation and six were fixed with K-wires. The average age of the patients was 28 years, average duration of the non-union was 39 months and mean radiological follow-up was 32 months. There were no significant skeletal complications, although two patients developed neuromata. At review, only six of the 11 non-unions were united. Whilst this is a difficult clinical problem and achieving union is a formidable challenge, we believe that there is a role for such extensive surgery in order to achieve good postoperative function.
Key Words: recalcitrant • scaphoid non-unions • union • vascularized grafting
Journal of Hand Surgery (British and European Volume), Vol. 31, No. 2,
185-190 (2006) |
||||
 |
|
|
 |
|
Sign In to gain access to subscriptions and/or personal tools.
