Wrist Function Recovery Course in Patients with Scaphoid Nonunion Treated with Combined Volar Bone Grafting and a Dorsal Antegrade Headless Screw

Abstract

Objectives:Surgical treatment is necessary for scaphoid nonunion. Open surgery with a combined volar and dorsal approach is thought to have poor functional outcomes and a prolonged recovery course. However, the detailed recovery course for this approach is rarely reported. The aim of this study was to investigate the recovery course and radiographic outcome for patients with scaphoid nonunion who underwent a combined volar bone grafting and dorsal antegrade headless screw approach.Material and methods:Eighteen patients with scaphoid nonunion who underwent combined volar bone grafting and dorsal antegrade headless screw fixation were enrolled in this retrospective study. Preoperative and serial postoperative wrist functional and radiographic outcomes were collected and analysed.Results:All 18 patients achieved bone union at a mean time of 14 weeks. Compared to the preoperative status, the grip strength was significantly recovered, and the Mayo wrist score improved significantly 6 months after surgery. Wrist motion arc was significantly improved 9 months after surgery, while the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score did not recover until 12 months after surgery. Significant improvements were found in all scaphoid radiographic parameters.Conclusion:The surgical outcomes for scaphoid nonunion treated with a combined volar bone grafting and dorsal antegrade headless screw achieved a high union rate, with great wrist functional and radiographic outcomes. The earliest recovered wrist functional parameters were grip strength and Mayo wrist score followed by the motion arc and finally the DASH score at postoperative 6, 9 months and 12 months, respectively.