Dr. Steven Rueda is one of the most sought after doctors for treatment of scaphoid fracture and scaphoid non-union in Palm Beach. The scaphoid bone assists in wrist movement and bending. Scaphoid fracture is considered a type of wrist fracture and usually leads to pain and swelling in the wrist after injury. Scaphoid “non-union” refers to a situation where there is no healing of the fractured bone ends after injury. Scaphoid fractures are sometimes difficult to identify on xrays and is common for them to be missed at the time of initial injury.
WHAT CAUSES SCAPHOID FRACTURE AND SCAPHOID NON-UNION?
It is not uncommon for an old scaphoid fracture to have been missed and for the patient to present months to years later with pain. Unfortunately, this bone has a very delicate blood supply that makes fractures very difficult to heal. Because of this limited blood supply, scaphoid fractures often need the help of surgery to enhance their chance of healing. However, there are some types of scaphoid fracture that can also heal on their own with prolonged immobilization.
SCAPHOID FRACTURE AND SCAPHOID NON-UNION PROCEDURE
Surgery usually involves placement of a screw that helps hold the fracture ends in place.
Incisions for scaphoid fractures are made in the back or the front of the wrist. It is more common to have incisions in the back of the wrist for the procedure, as the proximal pole of the scaphoid (the area closest to the forearm) is the one that frequently needs additional stability to heal. The length of the incision is highly variable with mini-open techniques being possible for simple fractures, and more extensive incisions for cases of scaphoid fractures with non-union or that have complicated patterns. Those with non-unions, comminuted fractures, or complicated patterns require an incision that is usually located in the area shown below:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
It is important to optimize the bone’s healing ability in every way. Dr. Rueda starts by making sure the patient has an adequate Vitamin D level. Stable surgical fixation in form of a screw has been show to increase the rate of bone healing. In most cases, bone graft from other parts of the body is placed at the non-union site to enhance healing potential.