Objective To explore the technique and effectiveness of percutaneous retrograde cannulated screw fixation for acute stable scaphoid waist fracture by a transtrapezial approach. Methods Between May 2010 and April 2012, 23 patients with acute stable scaphoid waist fracture were treated with percutaneous retrograde cannulated screw fixation by a transtrapezial approach. There were 18 males and 5 females, aged 21-54 years with an average of 32 years. All fractures were caused by supporting with hands after falling. The locations were the left side in 10 cases and the right side in 13 cases. The major symptoms included the wrist swelling, tenderness at the anatomic snuff box, and grip weakness. Two cases were accompanied by distal radius fractures. The time between injury and operation ranged from 1 to 5 days with an average of 3 days. Results All incisions healed by first intention. All the cases were followed up 4-26 months with an average of 10 months. All fractures healed 6-12 weeks postoperatively with an average of 8.2 weeks. The patients resumed normal life and work at 4-6 weeks and at 2-4 months after operation, respectively. At last follow-up, all the wrists were free from the pain and the tenderness. The postoperative grip power ranged from 30 to 51 kg (mean, 37 kg). The active flexion-extension range of motion was 140-165° with an average of 153.7°. All patients were satisfied with the results of treatment. Conclusion Percutaneous retrograde cannulated screw fixation by a transtrapezial approach is a simple, safe, and reliable method to treat acute stable scaphoid waist fracture. By this approach, it is easier to place the screws into the center of the long axis of scaphoid.
ObjectiveTo summarize the effectiveness of nitinol memory alloy two foot fixator with autologous cancellous bone grafting in treating old scaphoid fracture and nonunion.MethodsBetween January 2013 and January 2017, 11 patients of old scaphoid fracture and nonunion were treated with nitinol memory alloy two foot fixator and autologous cancellous bone grafting. All patients were male with an average age of 26.1 years (range, 18-42 years). The fractures were caused by sport in 3 cases, falling in 7 cases, and a crashing object in 1 case. The interval between injury and operation was 6-18 months (mean, 8.9 months). Postoperative outcome measures included operation time, fracture healing time, grip strength, range of motion (ROM) of flexion, extension, ulnar deviation, and radial deviation, Mayo score, visual analogue scale (VAS) score, and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score.ResultsThe operation time was 35-63 minutes (mean, 48 minutes). All incisions had primary healing with no infection and loosening or breakage of internal fixator. All patients were followed up 12-30 months (mean, 20.7 months). X-ray films showed that fracture healing was achieved in all patients with an average time of 15 weeks (range, 12-25 weeks). All internal fixators were removed after 10-12 months of operation (mean, 11.2 months). At last follow-up, the grip strength, ROMs of flexion, ulnar deviation, and radial deviation were superior to those before operation (P<0.05), no significant difference was found in ROM of extension between pre- and post-operation (t=0.229, P=0.824). There were significant differences in above indexes between affected and normal sides (P<0.05). At last follow-up, the Mayo, VAS, DASH scores were also significantly superior to those before operation (P<0.05).ConclusionFor the old scaphoid fracture and nonunion, Ni-Ti arched shape-memory alloy fixator and autologous cancellous bone grafting can obtain good effectiveness, which is an effective treatment.