The scaphoid, one of eight small bones in the wrist, is most commonly injured due to a fall on one’s outstretched wrist. It occurs most frequently in young men in their teens to 30’s. A patient with a scaphoid fracture (i.e., broken scaphoid bone) will have pain on the radial (thumb) side of their wrist. They will often have pain with wrist range of motion and may also have decreased movement of the wrist.
If a scaphoid fracture is suspected, X-rays should be obtained. However, X-rays will sometimes fail to reveal the crack in the bone if it is small, and thus additional tests such as MRI or CT scans may be ordered.
If you have a scaphoid fracture, treatment is usually a cast or surgery. Scaphoid fractures heal slowly due to their limited blood flow. It may take six to twenty weeks in a cast before the fracture heals. Surgery is recommended for certain types of scaphoid fractures and in some patient groups (athletes, laborers, musicians, etc.). In several studies, the healing rates are better and faster with surgery versus cast treatment. Surgery can often be done through a percutaneous or minimally invasive approach.
When a scaphoid fracture is not treated, patients often experience worsening wrist pain and stiffness. In time, these patients may develop arthritis and may require surgical treatment. Early diagnosis and treatment is very important for successful healing of scaphoid fractures.
Raleigh Hand Center treats patients with scaphoid fractures and other hand, wrist, and upper extremity problems from Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and eastern North Carolina. Surgical and non-surgical treatment options are available — the advantages of each option can be explained by your hand surgeon.
Image provided by the American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH).