Scaphoid Fracture Research Paper

The scaphoid bone is located in the wrist consisting of multiple carpal bones allowing the wrist to have great range of motion in flexion and extension. This small bone is located approximately between your thumb and forearm. Two long bones make up the forearm, the radius and ulna. The radius correlates with the thumb side and the ulna correlates with the pinky or small finger side. Due to its location, the scaphoid acts as a major pivoting point in between the radius and trapezius which produce thumb motion. “The most common wrist fracture among adults is fracture of the distal radius, with scaphoid fracture being the most common carpal injury. These fractures share a common mechanism of injury, and axial loading predisposes both the radius

Age, degree of fracture, patient’s disposition, patient’s medical history, and a number of other factors compound to determine proper treatment. Children have a faster rate of bone healing than older patients, but that may not matter if the fracture is a complete transverse fracture across the scaphoid. Transverse is a term meaning completely across the midline of a bone. One of the most difficult obstacles in treatment is the limited blood supply delivered to the scaphoid. Blood supply comes from one direction only and if a complete fracture of the midline occurs where the two halves are displace away from each other, the odds of healing reduce significantly. This is why scaphoid bones often require surgical intervention. The most frequently performed procedure is called an open reduction internal fixation, or ORIF. It is exactly as described, where the surgeon opens up the patient, reduces or closes up the displaced bone structures, and places a fixation stabilizer. The fixation is commonly acquired by placing a screw across the two pieces to ensure there is no gap in between the two pieces. Even with a secure, reduced scaphoid, problems can arise later down the